MP stands up for Tees industry
TEESSIDE’s biofuels industry was at the forefront of a robust debate by MPs yesterday as the influential Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) defended its call for a moratorium on increasing the amount of biofuels at the pumps.
Bob Coxon, chairman of the North East Processes Council and a director of Wilton bioethanol plant developers Ensus, who attended the debate, congratulated Stockton MP Dari Taylor on presenting the case for Teesside.
“In many ways it was her speech which influenced the direction of the debate by quoting real evidence which refuted many of the more emotional inputs by others,” he said. “It was an impressive performance.”
Her job was made more difficult by coverage of the recent UN food summit, which blamed biofuels for many of the world’s problems. Chairman of the EAC, parliamentary heavyweight Tim Yeo, said the impact of biofuels on food prices had “further added to the need for a fundamental reassessment of the (biofuels) policy”.
But Mr Coxon said investors in the sector who have appeared increasingly jittery following several high profile failures, were heartened by Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick’s “robust defence” of the Renewable Fuel Transport Obligation.
For a full report, see nebusiness.co.uk
