Welsh energy review inadequate to meet challenge of climate change

The House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee's report on energy [1] falls short of what is required to meet the crises of climate change, according to Friends of the Earth Cymru.

The environmental pressure group, which gave evidence to the inquiry, states that the report makes a number of useful recommendations but is also flawed in a number of respects.

Friends of the Earth Cymru spokesperson, Gordon James, said:

"We welcome the report's recognition of the increasing role of renewable energy in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in Wales but are disappointed that it has not rejected nuclear power and fails to highlight the problems associated with LNG at Milford Haven.

Unfortunately, even its assessment of renewable energy is flawed in a number of respects. Crucially, its over-critical comments on wind energy could result in there being a delay in reducing carbon dioxide emissions while we wait for other renewable energy systems to become viable.

"Its criticism of wind energy is at its most mystifying when, in paragraph 150, it asserts that local residents will have little - if any - opportunity to object to large wind farms because of the TAN 8 planning policy in Wales and the need to obtain consent from the DTI. In the following paragraph, it contradicts this claim by pointing out that all proposals for wind farms, whether considered by the DTI or the Welsh Assembly Government, are subject to public consultation.

We are disappointed that the Committee did not respond positively to our request for the views of supporters of wind energy to be heard, alongside those of opponents, when it visited north Wales . When we made this request in advance of the scheduled meeting on February 13th, we were told that the visit to north Wales had been cancelled. We were then not informed that the visit had been re-arranged for April 25th and that only the views of wind energy opponents were to be heard.

While going to considerable lengths to stress the need for adequate information and proper consultation for wind energy applications, it ignores the well publicised complaints made by many residents in the Milford Haven area about permission being granted to build a hazardous LNG storage facility close to a populated area and with, in the opinion of many, an inadequate consideration of shipping risks.

It is disappointing that no recommendation has been made for the proposed LNG power stations on the shores of Milford Haven to maximise efficiency by using combined heat and power (CHP) systems. This indicates a disregard for restricting the unnecessary emission of climate changing gases in Wales .

The report's call for a greater commitment by the Government to wave and tidal energy in Wales is welcome. It's positive comments on the Severn barrage, however, are misplaced as this project is unlikely to progress as a result of its significant impact on wildlife in the estuary, its cost, the length of time it would take to build and the fact that it would prevent more cost effective and environmentally acceptable tidal schemes being developed there.

We are pleased that the report calls on the DTI to explore all alternative sources of electricity supply for Anglesey Aluminium. We believe that this could be achieved by an on-site CHP system, tidal stream systems and off-shore wind farms sooner than a new nuclear power station could be built at Wylfa. We are, therefore, disappointed that the nuclear option for Wales has not been totally rejected.

While we support the development of cleaner coal technologies, we caution that some of these could not be implemented quickly because of their cost.

We would like to think that the Committee's report would act as a spur to the implementation of a wide range of renewable and cleaner technologies that could help to deliver carbon dioxide reductions for Wales . We fear though that it might merely delay this process."

Note

1. The House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee's report 'Energy in Wales ' which will be released at 10am today.