Assembly wind energy policy welcomed

The Welsh Assembly Government's support for further wind energy developments in Wales has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth Cymru. The support is outlined in the planning guidance Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN8) on renewable energy that is being released this afternoon.

TAN 8 sets out how the planning system can deliver the Welsh Assembly's target generating 4TWh, amounting to around 20% of Welsh electricity demand, by 2010 mainly from land-based wind energy. It estimates that 800MW of electricity could be obtained from onshore wind and 200MW from offshore wind and other renewables. This would amount to approximately a trebling of renewable energy capacity in Wales over the next five years.

Gordon James, Friends of the Earth Cymru's Welsh Assembly Campaigner, said:

"We broadly welcome the Welsh Assembly's planning guidance document, TAN8 which will enable the planning system to deliver around 20% of electricity demand in Wales from renewable energy sources by 2010."

"The only credible way of achieving this in the required timescale is mainly by means of onshore wind energy as this is the most technically advanced and cost-effective of the renewable energy options. Although Friends of the Earth Cymru is taking a lead role in supporting other renewable energy systems, such as solar power, energy crops, tidal lagoons and wave power, we recognise that these cannot yet deliver the necessary amounts of clean energy required to address the problem of climate change."

"Scientific evidence is increasingly showing that urgent action is now required to reduce emissions of the gases that are causing climate change. We cannot delay efforts to switch from polluting fossil fuels, which are the main cause of climate change, to cleaner sources of energy."

"Although a vociferous minority oppose wind energy, opinion polls consistently show that the majority support them. This is also the case in mid-Wales, which has been at the forefront of wind energy developments for a number of years. An NOP poll, on behalf of the British Wind Energy Association in May this year, concluded that 75% of Welsh people believed that wind farms were necessary with the strongest support coming from mid-Wales."

"We have seen similar levels of opposition to proposals for other forms of cleaner energy, such as energy crops, a tidal barrage and wood burning schemes. Whatever is proposed, some people will object as all forms of energy have some negative impacts."

Although Friends of the Earth Cymru is generally supportive of TAN8, the organisation is concerned that it could be too restrictive and could exclude good sites outside of the recommended areas. It is particularly concerned that the proposed 300MW Camddwr windfarm near Tragaron is not included in the TAN8 strategic areas because it is in a MoD Tactical Training Area for low flying for about 30hrs each year.

Friends of the Earth Cymru are also calling on the Welsh Assembly to do more to support energy efficiency measures and other forms of renewable energy, such as tidal lagoons, energy crops and solar power.

Gordon James continued:

"If the targets in TAN8 are met it will mean that 600,000 people in Wales will be supplied by electricity from clean renewable sources, with over 400,000 of these being supplied by wind energy."

"The Welsh Assembly ought to be congratulated for sticking to ambitious targets which could bring environmental and economic benefits to Wales."

"There is no room for complacency, however, and we shall continue to campaign vigorously for the Welsh Assembly to give more support to energy conservation and to other forms of renewable energy, such as tidal lagoons, energy crops and solar power."

This week, Friends of the Earth Cymru are touring Wales with a renewable energy exhibition trailer in order to promote greater awareness of climate change and the solutions that are available to address the problem. It will be in Aberystwyth tomorrow (Weds July13th), St David's on Thursday, Swansea on Friday and Newport, Gwent, on Saturday.