Wider range of options for harnessing Severn tidal power welcomed

24 July 2008

Friends of the Earth Cymru welcomed the publication of 10 renewable energy options for the Severn Estuary by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform today (July 24 2008).

Friends of the Earth Cymru Energy Campaigner, and member of the Severn Tidal Strategic Environmental Assessment steering group, Neil Crumpton, said:

"Friends of the Earth Cymru is delighted that the Government is looking at a range of options for generating clean green energy from the Severn estuary. There are some exciting tidal projects on the table which could produce as much as 10 per cent of the UK's renewable energy 2020 target in a more cost effective way than the Severn Barrage - and without damaging the environment or threatening access to the port at Bristol.

"The Government is currently trying to wriggle out of EU targets for green energy. If Ministers focused their efforts on developing Britain's vast renewable energy reserves - including the Severn Estuary - instead, they could build a thriving renewable industry. This would help avoid disastrous climate change and generate billions of pounds, hundreds of thousands of jobs and a clean and a secure energy supply for the UK."

For further information please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577.