A faulty power supply at a popular Harbourside event venue has sparked concerns over air pollution caused by diesel generators. The Amphitheatre, known for hosting major summer events like Bristol Sounds and the Great Bristol Run, is unable to rely on local electric supply following safety inspections revealing deficiencies.
As a result, large-scale events are forced to resort to diesel generators, which emit nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant detrimental to human health. Despite efforts like the Clean Air Zone targeting polluting diesel vehicles, diesel generators remain unaffected.
Bristol City Council officials are now proposing an £800,000 upgrade to the venue’s electric infrastructure to eliminate reliance on generators in the future. The council’s transport policy committee is expected to approve these plans during their upcoming session on Thursday, July 11.
According to a committee report, “The current power supply and electrical installations at the site do not meet the necessary capacity to support major music, culinary, cultural, and festival events without the use of diesel generators to boost onsite power levels.”
Diesel generators not only contribute to particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide pollution harmful to health but also generate CO2 emissions that pose environmental and long-term public health risks.
