Responding to the government's announcement on carbon capture and storage (CCS), Lord Chris Smith, chairman of the Environment Agency, said: 'The Environment Agency believes that carbon capture for coal power is a key element of a clean energy policy - which includes improved energy efficiency, safe nuclear power and a big increase in renewable energy generation.' 

He continued: 'Coal power is currently one of the highest carbon emitting forms of electricity generation - producing over 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually in the UK. But CCS, which involves capturing the carbon dioxide emitted from the burning of fossil fuels and storing it deep underground, has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal by up to 90 per cent. The Environment Agency has previously warned that emissions from coal power stations must be dramatically reduced if the UK is to meet its 2050 target of at least an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. We need to reduce dramatically the emissions from coal power stations and carbon capture technology offers real hope of a new era of "clean coal". It is an essential element of any sensible energy policy for the next 20 years.'