The RSPB has come under fire again for agreeing to a plan to put a power plant on one of its nature reserves.
The Statera Energy natural gas plant will be built on a section of Saltholme reserve near Middlesbrough in Teesside.
Local MP for Stockton North Alex Cunningham said he was “personally disgusted” about the idea, according to the Northern Echo newspaper.
When Fieldsports Channel asked him to comment he refused, saying he doesn’t “associate with publications promoting many of the things you promote”.
Previous criticism for the power station plan has come from former cricketer Ian Botham, who told the Daily Telegraph the public “will struggle to understand how the RSPB both supports Extinction Rebellion and yet is renting out a bird reserve for a fossil fuel power station”.
RSPB defended the plan, insisting it’s “not a large power station” and will only be used at peak times, such as “half time during an FA cup final when everyone goes to make a cup of tea”.
The charity admitted renewable energy like wind or solar is simply unable to provide enough power to prop up the National Grid and the new power station would be less polluting than current power stations.
The land involved is also owned by Teesside Environmental Trust, the RSPB’s landlord at Saltholme. The RSPB claims that the land, “doesn’t provide any significant benefits for the important wildlife”. All the rent will go to TET.
It predicted the noise level will only be 55dB, “the same as a normal spoken conversation” during construction it would reach 75dB – 15dB quieter than a lawnmower.
At time of writing, RSPB had not responded to our inquiry about the power station plan.
