12/04/2010 (China Post) - An energy firm in the UK has been given the thumbs up to go ahead with a new electricity power plant which will be run on palm oil, it has been reported.

An article in the Times claimed that Chelveston Renewable Energy has been given the green light to build a bio-oil power station at a site near to Wellingborough. The plot used to be an RAF base, the source noted.

It pointed out that many firms are turning to the use of palm oil to provide power, despite fierce opposition to the fuel from many environmentalists, who believe its use is one of the main reasons for rainforest deforestation.

Those behind palm oil, however, claim that the lower greenhouse emissions given out by the oil make it a good eco choice - but this fails to take into account the large amounts of CO2 which can be produced by the sourcing of the oil in the first place.

When large areas of the rainforest are cut down, the carbon trapped within the rainforest soil is released into the air.