Published: Tuesday 09th February 2016 | 2.44pm
Cannock Chase Council has expressed their regret following on from the announcement yesterday, that Rugeley Power Station is expected to cease market operations this summer.
The closure expected in early summer 2016 is due to the deterioration in market conditions for UK coal-fired power generation.
This shocking news has come early for the District Council following the announcement in November 2015 of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change policy proposal to close all unabated coal fired power stations by 2025.
Councillor George Adamson, Leader of the Council said “I am extremely disappointed to hear the news that Rugeley Power Station will close this summer. We realise this is a very difficult time for the workforce.
We have been in regular contact with Rugeley Power Station since the announcement of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change proposal to close coal fired power stations by 2025, but the decision of the company to close Rugeley power station is still a shock. The closure inevitably raises questions about the security of energy supply at a national level also.
Agreement has been reached that a task force will be established in which Cannock Chase Council, Lichfield District Council, Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, Staffordshire and Stoke LEP and Staffordshire County Council will work together with ENGIE on the future uses for the site and it is essential that this now commences as soon as possible. I would hope that any future use would deliver, as a minimum, 150 jobs to replace those lost.
Not only will 150 people lose their jobs, but this will also have implications on District Council Services, as the power station currently pays approximately £4 million in business rates. The direct impact on Cannock Chase Council will be a shortfall of £1million. This is very sad news for the District all round. We will work closely with ENGIE and all stakeholders to mitigate the impact and start planning for a different future on this site.”