Welsh conservatives urged to follow their leader on wind energy

Conservative Welsh Assembly Members are being urged to follow party leader Michael Howard in his support of offshore wind energy and to drop their opposition to the Scarweather Sands wind farm in Swansea Bay.

Today, in a major speech on climate change, Michael Howard accused the Labour government of neglecting offshore wind energy pointing to its environmental and economic benefits. Yet, according to Friends of the Earth Cymru, some of his Assembly Members in Wales are impeding the development of this clean form of energy by trying to scupper proposals for one of the most important offshore wind farms in Wales .

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

"The important and welcome contribution that Michael Howard has made today on climate change policy is being undermined in Wales by the campaign of opposition by Welsh conservative Assembly Members to the Scarweather Sands wind farm in Swansea Bay."

"Alun Cairns AM, in particular, has made irresponsible claims that Scarweather would harm the local economy and has failed to recognise its important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Wales . We strongly recommend that he, and other members of his party that oppose the Scarweather Sands wind farm, read their leader's speech. They might then appreciate the important economic and environmental contribution that offshore wind farms make and drop their opposition to Scarweather."

Friends of the Earth has broadly welcomed Michael Howard's speech that recognised the need for urgent action on climate change.