The contract for the brand new power plant in South Staffordshire has been signed paving the way for the controversial waste-to-energy plant to have construction begin on it.
The power facility, which will provide enough energy from waste to power over 32,000 households, has been the height of controversy among South Staffordshire residents. Part of a larger strategy within the local council, the project will aim to prevent taxpayers from incurring more costs as environmental and financial costs build on landfill sites.
Dubbed Four Ashes, the plant is staged to be built between Wolverhampton and Cannock, opening of 40 new employment opportunities in the region. The Staffordshire County Council claims that the power plant will save taxpayers over £250million in fees during the next 25 years. The contract was given the greenlight by Staffordshire County Council chair Cllr Philip Atkins.
Negotiated between the council and Veolia Environmental Services, which is spearheading the projecting, the contract is said to be the largest the council has ever signed. Veolia will be responsible for the management of the project as part of a larger 25-year private finance campaign.
Cllr Atkins said that Veolia beat out several other serious competitors for the prestigious contract and will be able to offer the local authority the best value and quality for the local taxpayers. He added that the contract was solely about ensuring taxpayers were spared from additionally costs that have begun to increase on landfill properties. Veolia is one of Europe’s biggest firms within the environment sector leading the way in innovative business tactics.
Despite rampant objections from local environmental groups, planning permission for the Four Ashes facility has already been secured. Work on the plant will begin in the spring amidst concern that the plant will only further create more pollution.
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