Carbon capture must get the go ahead before the general election

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Jul 2009

Carbon capture must be given the go ahead before the general election if we are to exploit its world wide potential according to Dunfermline and West Fife MP Willie Rennie.

Speaking today in the House of Commons, Dunfermline Mr Rennie challenged Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to give assurances that the government's carbon capture competition will not be subject to any further delays.

The competition has already been postponed by one year causing Mr Rennie to express his concern that further delays may occur in the run up to the general election.

Carbon capture and storage has huge potential locally, particularly as the Forth valley is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the UK, with Grangemouth, Mossmorran, Cockenzie, Longannet and many other industrial sites.

Commenting Mr Rennie said:

"I'm disappointed that Ed Miliband was only able to commit to a speedy process. With the competition already suffering delays, there's a real possibility that it may slip again and get caught up in the general election.

"Longannet Power Station remains a strong contender for the competition to demonstrate that the whole technology process can work on an industrial scale. But if we're to exploit the worldwide potential for carbon capture, we need to ensure that we take advantage before the general election.

"We can't allow any slippage, any bureaucracy or any Administration to get in the way of something that could be hugely important for Scotland and the UK