Message: Britain's energy minister says Coal is Key - Feb. 6/08
Britain's energy minister says coal is key
Wed Feb 6, 2008 12:5
By Jackie Cowhig
LONDON (Reuters) - Coal power generation is crucial for the growth of the British economy, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said on Wednesday.
But he said the government could not yet release a specific policy document on coal-fired electricity.
"We can't afford to forget coal which contributes about 35 pct of UK power and has an important part to play in UK power policy," Wicks said.
The fuel source is controversial because it produces more of the planet-warming gas carbon dioxide than any other power source.
Protesters from environmental group Greenpeace interrupted Wicks as he addressed a coal conference at the Lord's cricket ground in London.
"Coal power stations are out-of-date climate-wreckers," the group said in a statement.
Wicks said it would take time for cleaner coal technologies to be developed, but that the British government had committed to funding carbon capture and storage trial plants.
COAL NEEDED TO DIVERSIFY ENERGY MIX Continued...
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