Will the Amer power station burn more coal again? That could just happen now that coal-fired power stations in the Netherlands are once again given more space. In this way they should relieve the gas-fired power plants. We spoke to some neighbors of the power station in Geertruidenberg and they are fine with ‘their’ power station switching completely to coal again.
The Amer power station now runs on eighty percent on biomass and only twenty percent on coal.
A resident of the Stadsweg in Geertruidenberg has no problem with the power station becoming a real coal-fired power station again. “He belongs. It is a landmark for us and I even think it’s beautiful. My grandchildren call it the cloud maker.”
“I have no problem with it, even though they use nuclear energy.”
Jan Wiedijk drives along the Amercentrale on his scooter. He has no problems with the coal-fired power station at all. “I have lived here for 40 years now. Sometimes you hear it hum, but otherwise we have little nuisance from the Amer,” says Wiedijk.
“Certainly since the fly ash is properly collected, we no longer have any nuisance. Very occasionally when you hang the laundry outside, you notice that there is dust in the clothes, which is why we use a tumble dryer.” What is more important, according to Wiedijk: “There is work for the people here again. Now it only runs partially.”
“I have no problem with it, even if they use nuclear energy”, local resident Garry Oerl laughs. He even likes the power station: “When I come back from vacation and I see it in the distance, I know I’m almost home.” He is afraid that ‘environmental idiots’ will take action. “If they do that in front of the power station and not in front of my door, I’m fine with that.”
“I’m for the environment, but this is just force majeure thanks to people like Putin.”
Neighbor Joke Schoenmakers thinks Groningen is more important than herself. “These people live in houses that are sinking. We must try to protect those people. I’m for the environment, but this is just force majeure thanks to people like Putin.”
If we can get through the winter with coal, Schoenmakers is in favor of Minister Rob Jetten’s plan. “Sometimes there is some fine dust. But you get used to that when you live here. And when the power station is switched off, there is almost as much particulate matter.”
“Now energy is becoming very expensive, people can no longer afford it. Then I say: just switch to coal”, begins Jos van Suntenmaartensdijk while walking his dog. “Everything is still there, everything can just start running. So if it is necessary, it just has to be done.”
Jos used to live in a flat almost next to the Amercentrale: “I’ve never had any problems with it. I also have no idea what the problem must be, because everything in the air is fumes and dirty. That little bit can still be added.”
ALSO READ: Amercentrale is not eager to burn more coal