Edfenergy

Profit before planet.

Early on Monday 29th October 2012, sixteen people scaled the chimneys of EDF's West Burton gas-fired power station, shutting it down and halting further construction. West Burton is one of the first of up to 20 new gas-fired power stations the Government has planned.

The new ‘dash for gas’ will leave us dependent on a highly polluting and increasingly expensive fossil fuel for decades to come. It would make even our modest carbon reduction targets impossible. (1)

In February 2013, EDF Energy decided that it would put profit before planet and take these same protestors to court, to try and extract £5 million from them. It must know that, if it wins, they have no hope of paying. It must know that they would lose everything they own, now and for the rest of their lives. For these and other reasons, EDF’s action looks to me like a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation: a SLAPP around the ear of democracy.(2) EDF themselves state that one of the prime effects of this occupation was financial loss: "...this illegal activity put lives at risk, caused considerable disruption to the site during its construction, and considerable financial losses. It also delayed the completion..."(3)

In light of the British government's go-ahead for new gas power, it is worth asking whether the government remains committed to carbon emissions reduction targets and to the advice of the Committee on Climate Change which it set up. The CCC wants a lesser role for new gas generation.(4)

Several thousand people feel similarly strongly. Have a look at http://www.change.org/EDF21 for the latest numbers.

This review on trustpilot is posted so that customers can make an informed opinion of the environmental motives of this company.

These views are my own, but this material has been sourced chiefly from:

(1) nodashforgas.org.uk
(2) http://www.monbiot.com/2013/02/25/corporate-blowback/
(3) http://www.edfenergy.com/media-centre/press-news/EDF-Energy-statement-on-court-case-involving-protestors-at-West-Burton-CCGT-site.shtml
(4)
http://www.newscientist.com/mobile/article/dn22594-the-uks-new-dash-for-gas-is-a-dangerous-gamble.html