The modern gas-fired power plant, proposed by US-based
Acorn Energy, will be built on the site of an old coal-fired power plant at
Thorpe Marsh, which was shut down in 1994.
SSE has proposed to fuel its new combined heat and power
(CHP) plant at Ferrybridge with biomass, waste-derived fuels and waste wood on
the site of its existing coal-fired power station which will shut down before
2016.
"These decisions are a further example of our
determination to clear the back-log of planning applications, to stimulate
growth and enhance our energy security," said Energy Minister Charles
Hendry.
The one billion pound gas-fired power plant and SSE's 250
million pound project are expected to create over 1,000 jobs during
construction, the ministry said.
More than 8 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired power capacity
will shut down in Britain before 2016 under an EU-wide directive which imposes
limits for climate harming emissions.
This means new power plants to replace the loss in
capacity need to quickly receive state approval to start construction in time
for the planned closures.
The ministry last month approved the construction of a
new biomass power plant in Wales and two weeks ago increased state subsidies
for renewable energy sources such as marine and biomass.
