Scottish government approves a new gas power station at Peterhead; a Green MSP and climate campaigners condemn it
The Scottish government approved SSE and Equinor's planned 900MW gas-fired power station at Peterhead, which includes provision for carbon capture. Green MSP Maggie Chapman, Friends of the Earth Scotland and Uplift opposed it; SSE says delivery depends on Scotland's carbon capture cluster.
Left 0 · Centre-left 3 · Centre 2 · Centre-right 1 · Right 0
ContextSources by leanVideoDeep diveFollow the moneyMore coverage
How each side framed it
Left-leaning outlets
Climate hypocrisy: SNP ministers accused after approving the gas plant (The National); 'catastrophic failure' say campaigners (Scotsman).
Centre outlets
Centre-rated outlets headline it: “New gas-fired power station at Peterhead is approved” (BBC News); “Ministers accused of 'catastrophic failure' for approving gas power station amid climate and energy bill fears” (The Scotsman).
Right-leaning outlets
Energy security: the plant is designed for carbon capture and backs up supply.
Context
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Sources by lean
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Left 1
- The Herald (Scotland)
Ministers accused of ‘catastrophic’ decision to approve new 900MW gas power station
Centre 1
Right 1
Showing 1 from each side of 6 rated outlets (L 3 / C 2 / R 1). Capped at 1 because that is all we found on the thinnest side. More coverage
Video
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Deep dive
A short prompt for thinking it through. We write a fuller side-by-side deep dive for the day's biggest stories.
The paradox: Both sides say they want secure power and lower emissions, but disagree on whether new gas helps or hinders.
What each side may be protecting: Opponents: climate targets. Supporters: reliable power and jobs in the north-east.
A question to hold: Shared question: what conditions on carbon capture would satisfy both sides?
Try it: open one left and one right article in Sources by lean and note what each takes for granted.
Follow the money
Not yet researched. We haven't yet looked at who gains or loses financially from this story, or who funds the main voices on each side. When we do, we check company filings, the Electoral Commission donations register, lobbying registers, annual reports, InfluenceMap and OpenSecrets, and we apply the same checks to every side. How we follow the money.
Who owns or funds the outlets covering this story (6 outlets)
| Outlet | Lean | Ownership & funding (MBFC) |
|---|---|---|
| The Herald (Scotland) | Centre-left | The Glasgow Herald is published by Herald & Times Group, which is owned by Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Newsquest is the second-largest publisher in the United Kingdom, publishing 205 brands including 165 newspapers. Further, Newsquest is owned by US-based Gannett which publishes USA Today. source |
| The Independent | Centre-left | The Independent is owned by Independent Print Limited, a company owned by the Lebedev family (Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev). In 2017, Saudi Businessman Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel bought a 30% stake in the Independent online newspaper. Advertising and subscription generate revenue for the paper..push({}); source |
| The National (Scotland) | Centre-left | The National is operated by Newsquest Media Group Ltd., a UK-based local media publisher. Newsquest is a wholly owned subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc., the media company formerly known as Gannett Company, which also controls AZthe USA TODAY Network of national and local news outlets in the United States and regional titles in the United Kingdom. Revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales source |
| BBC News | Centre | The BBC operates under a Royal Charter. Oversight is managed by the BBC Board, and regulatory authority rests with Ofcom. source |
| The Scotsman | Centre | JPIMedia owns the Scotsman. Advertising and subscription fees generate revenue..push({}); source |
| Evening Standard | Centre-right | The newspaper is majority-owned by Russian businessman and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev and the Daily Mail and General Trust. Revenue is generated through advertising. source |