It has been confirmed today that Ferrybridge C coal power station will be closing next year, leading to a loss of 172 jobs and leaving a 2GW hole in the national grid. Those losing their jobs must be finding it hard to stomach the crocodile tears of their union overlords at the GMB, with the union’s national officer claiming that it’s “devastating news“.

Funny then that the GMB are a partner in the Trade Unions for Energy Democracy group which lobbies for stricter regulation for fossil fuel industries and for unions to fight for an immediate transition to renewable energy:

“The world cannot wait for fossil fuels to run out before it transitions to a truly sustainable energy system. Decisive action is needed…The energy transition we urgently need is not happening, but this need not be the case. A transition to an energy system where renewable energy grows quickly and eventually becomes dominant is not science fiction….

Current policies aimed at ‘leveling the playing field’ between fossil fuels and renewable sources of power, or introducing effective carbon pricing or renewable energy standards, could play an important role in reducing emissions in certain contexts. But the evidence of recent history suggests that these policies are not designed to address the political and economic power of the fossil fuel companies and the existing production and consumption model.”

SSE, the owners of Ferrybridge were forced into closing the station by the ” impact of environmental legislation”…