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A planning application for a biofuel power plant in Avonmouth has been thrown out by the council.

A Bristol City Council Planning Committee made the decision last night, after concerns were raised about the green credentials of the scheme.

There has also been strong opposition to the proposals from local residents, environmental groups and politicians.

Many have said there is no evidence at this stage to show burning biofuels has any less of a negative impact on the environment than burning fossil fuels.  There are also concerns over deforestation in countries like Malaysia where biofuels like palm olive oil are harvested.  On top of that, the fuels have to be transported across the world which raises questions about the level of carbon emissions created through transportation.

There has been some call for the site to be turned into a wind farm instead of a biofuel plant.

We spoke to Ricky Knight who is parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Bristol West. He says it is not about being against any form of development on the site: "We have nothing against the site per se, because the site is already staring you in the face, it's a wonderful site for renewable energy for a start. It's one of the great highlights when you drive down to Bristol from the West Country.  But it's not the process we're looking for. Renewable energy yes, but not emanating from palm olive oil."

One local resident added: "It (biofuel) is the most unsustainable way of producing energy and we want to say, let's have more sustainable ways of producing energy not biofuels and definitely not palm oil."

Ricky Knight went on to say: "It's a very very unbiodiverse fuel source and it really must be stoppped. It's been vilified all over the world and I just cannot understand why it's gathered legs here in the Avonmouth area. Yes, we need jobs and we green jobs and we need sustainable green jobs but palm olive oil is not a sustainable source."

Council leader Barbara Janke said after the meeting "Bristol may now find itself at the forefront of a national campaign to stop such developments. Tonight's decision may be challenged. If it is, we will be in the position ourselves of challenging national planning law on this vital issue...despite the fact it's subsidised by the govnerment."

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