Developers say the eight-acre Selby Renewable Energy Park could provide 120 posts for the town, 40 directly and 80 indirectly.

Grantham-based Whites Renewable Energy is seeking planning consent for the scheme on the site of the former Tate and Lyle citric acid plant, with its motorway links via the Selby bypass.

It would generate enough clean, renewable energy to power 10,800 homes for a year via the National Grid – equivalent to the whole of the town.

Whites managing director David Balderson told a press conference: "This project will provide a significant boost to the local economy by creating jobs, and will also make available a cheap non-fossil fuel heat source that will attract businesses to the area."

The plant would use the latest technology for treating organic waste, particularly food waste, in Britain, called anaerobic digestion.

The process involves sealing off organic matter in containers with no oxygen and breaking it down into a gas used to generate power.

Because the raw material is kitchen scraps the system has the advantage over other biofuels that it's not increasing demand for food products and pushing up high street prices.

There is also a fertiliser by-product that can help grow crops.
Mr Balderson said: "Anaerobic digestion is widely recognised by the government and Friends of the Earth as one of the best solutions for
disposing of organic waste.

"Everyone wins, as the waste is treated in a sealed process reducing the generation of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. A clean, renewable fuel is produced which can be used to create electricity and heat."

The plant will also provide a potential low-cost heat source for local
businesses. An anaerobic digester already exists on the site, which is currently being updated. The proposal is to build two similar pieces of equipment.