Ruling confirms Anglesey campaigners' anti-wind myths as misleading

November 28 2012

A wind farm opposition group in north Wales has made a number of misleading and unsubstantiated claims, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has confirmed today.

The ASA has judged that Anglesey Against Wind Turbines (AAWT) has been misleading politicians and the public in a campaign opposing wind power on the island. Upholding all eleven complaints raised by Môn a Gwynedd Friends of the Earth and the Sustainable Energy Alliance, the Advertising Standards Authority has forbidden AAWT from publishing any more of these leaflets [1].

Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"Anglesey Against Wind Turbines' assertions have been described by the ASA as misleading and unsubstantiated. The anti-wind group failed to provide any proof to back up their ludicrous claims, and it's no wonder - all the evidence shows that wind energy is effective, low-carbon and economically viable. And there is absolutely no evidence that turbines affect health or impact on tourism.

"Too often the small minority who lobby against wind energy get away with repeating these damaging myths, and the confusion they create is getting in the way when we should be getting on with tackling climate change and bringing thousands of high quality jobs to Wales.

"This ruling now brings into question AAWT's submission to Anglesey County Council, as it's clear just how misleading the anti-wind campaign has been. Anglesey Council must not give in to scaremongering based on misinformation, and instead recognise the real and proven benefits of wind energy as a low-carbon form of electricity generation.

"Let's hope AAWT now refrain from the hot air they've been spouting, and any other groups thinking of repeating the same groundless myths think twice before misleading the public."

NOTES

1. Advertising Standards Authority Adjudications