Drax - to drop a E 300 mil Euro boost for the region and an environmental project set to be developed in our North Sea. (thats about £ 250mil)  

Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard made the announcement from the European Commission in Brussels at midday today. Linda McAvan was instrumental in establishing the NER300 fund with cash generated from the sale of carbon permits as part of the EU’s flagship Emissions Trading Scheme. Linda said; “I am delighted to see that the EU is investing in the White Rose project. As well as the immediate jobs that the CCS project would create, the potential to export this technology, once developed, could also bring untold economic benefits to our region.”  “CCS technology is also essential if we hope to meet ambitious climate action targets and reduce the amount of Carbon being released into our atmosphere. Yorkshire is the UK’s most energy intensive region making it ideally suited to the development of CCS with a cluster of large emitters of carbon and plenty of off-shore storage space."

The EU confirmed the White Rose Project, centred on the Drax power station near Selby, will receive Euros 300 million. It will see the building of a new power plant with harmful gases captured and piped for storage under the North Sea.

White Rose itself is expected to support around 2,000 jobs but is likely to help create many more as it kickstarts the wider carbon capture and storage (CCs) industry in Yorkshire. The region is seen as a prime location for CCS because of its history of power generation and heavy industry and proximity to the North Sea. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said: “This is great news for Yorkshire and for Britain. White Rose will create thousands of green, local jobs and make a real difference to cutting carbon emissions.  “The UK is at the forefront of developing carbon capture and storage, with excellent potential for storage in the North and Irish Seas, and the expertise in operating offshore to make it a reality.

“And as a world leader in the technology, as carbon capture and storage is commercialised Britain will be in first place to export this knowledge to a decarbonising global economy.” Yorkshire MEP Linda McAvan, who played a key role setting up the EU fund which is backing the White Rose Project, said: “I am delighted to see that the EU is investing in the White Rose project. “As well as the immediate jobs that the CCS project would create, the potential to export this technology, once developed, could also bring untold economic benefits to our region.”  The White Rose Project is a joint venture between Drax, Alstom and BOC. Chief executive Leigh Hackett said: “We are well on track to demonstrate the key role that CCS can play in the future UK energy mix. CCS is an important technology providing clean, reliable and cost competitive electricity with the potential to contribute greatly to the decarbonisation of global power markets.”  source Yorkshire Post:  http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/politics & Linda McAvan MEP ; http://www.lindamcavanmep.org.uk/latest-news/post/eu-to-award-300-millio...

This news follows Linda McAvans MEP election to the  EU's top job as Chair of the Development Committee   "MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, new chair of the European Parliament's development committee, said:

"I am delighted to have been elected as the chair of the European Parliament's International Development committee, and am grateful for colleagues' support. I will work to ensure the committee plays a full part in tackling poverty across the world.

"The next Parliament will bring a huge opportunity to make progress in the developing world through the UN's post-Millennium Development Goals, the European Year of Development (2015) and the UN climate summit in Paris next year. My task is to ensure the committee has a strong voice on these issues, and I relish the challenge that brings.

"This position is a great opportunity for us as Labour MEPs. We can advance our cause for social justice, and demonstrate the added impact that working with across countries across the EU can have. I look forward to working with all those active on development policy in the period to come."  Source - Labour in Europe:  http://www.eurolabour.org.uk/labour-meps-top-jobs-european-parliament?fb...

Linda is also keen to promote Fairtrade throughout the Yorkshire Region and following the Tour de France said of Fairtrade Yorkshire; On the Road to a Fairer Future "this was a good idea ":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXTbH3eCdYI