The £60 million project on the Blackburn meadows site on the outskirts of the city is likely to go for planning consent in 2008, with construction scheduled to start in 2009.

A scoping statement, looking at the possible environmental impact of the biomass plant has now been submitted to both Sheffield and Rotherham councils

Eon's Nilton Chan said: "We're looking to breathe life back into the redundant Blackburn Meadows site and believe that a biomass development is a great opportunity to make a contribution to the Yorkshire and Humber Region's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2010."