Three environmental organisations have accused the province of North Brabant of deliberately using incorrect nitrogen figures. The data is being used to prepare a new nature permit for the RWE Amer biomass power plant in Geertruidenberg. According to the groups, the province is artificially inflating current nitrogen and ammonia emissions on paper. This makes it appear as though the new situation will bring a significant reduction.
The MOB Foundation, the Clean Air Committee, and the Environmental Association have been in legal battles with the province for years. They want to prove that ammonia emissions at the Amer plant are much lower than the province claims. North Brabant stated that current emissions stand at 175 tonnes per year and will be reduced to 50 tonnes. However, the organisations point out that official national registries show the plant emits almost no ammonia. They claim the province is including installations that have been out of use for more than a decade in its calculations.
The province of North Brabant said it has noted the views of the environmental organisations. A spokesperson stated that the draft permit was drawn up based on current laws, regulations, and available data. She added that the province cannot comment on the specific points raised while the procedure is still ongoing.
The three environmental groups have called the situation fraud because they believe the facts are being deliberately misrepresented. Johan Vollenbroek of the MOB Foundation called it cheating and foolish, adding that anyone can see the numbers are incorrect. The groups are angry that the province can use these flawed calculations to increase permitted nitrogen emissions. Vollenbroek said they will await the decision and are prepared to take the matter to the Council of State if necessary. In 2024, the court already ruled in their favour in an appeal case regarding the Amer plant.
The organisations argue that switching the plant to biomass will lead to more pollution anyway. This is partly due to the extra transport required. They also state that the plant will emit more carbon dioxide than a coal-fired plant. They believe nitrogen deposition on surrounding protected nature areas will increase. Several of these areas, including the Loonse en Drunense Duinen & Leemkuilen and other heaths and forests, are already overloaded.
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