MEMBERS of the public will have a chance next week to find out more about a controversial green power plant proposal for Newport.

Vogen Energy wants to build a 25-megawatt plant in Alexandra Docks which will turn vegetable fat into electricity.

It has organised a public information day on Tuesday in the Castle Room of Newport Centre from 2pm to 7pm.

Residents can find out more about the proposal and ask questions.

Pressure groups Biofuelwatch and Food not Fuel have campaigned against the idea claiming the process had a negative impact on food production.

But Vogen's chief executive Harvey West told the Argus earlier this year that the company was committed to using only unrefined bio-oils from accredited sustainable sources.

Independent consultants were hired to conduct an environmental impact assessment which looked at the potential effects of such a plant on the surrounding area.

It included air quality and air emissions, ecology, noise, transport, hydrology, contamination and archaeology.

A council spokesman said its environmental health team was satisfied with the air quality and emissions assessments and believed the plant would meet the required quality standards.

New technologies such as biofuel power plants have to meet stringent environmental quality checks.

A decision will be eventually made by the council's planning committee based on material considerations such as local and national policies.

Two other companies have already been given the go-ahead to build green power plants in Newport Docks.

One will turn waste into electricity while the other will use bio-mass.