Home > Press releases > 2001
19 Jun 2001
'Swords into ploughshares' as military base becomes renewable energy plant
Friends of the Earth today warmly welcomed the announcement by the
Scottish Executive and Danish firm Vestas Wind Systems of the UK's first
commercial scale wind turbine plant. Opening next year with an initial
100 new jobs on the former Machrihanish NATO Air Base near Campbeltown
on the Mull of Kintyre, the factory will manufacture wind turbines and
towers for the rapidly expanding UK and Irish renewable energy markets.
Mark Johnston, Energy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“This is excellent news. Although the UK has the largest wind
resource in the whole of Europe it has fallen behind other countries
in developing clean green energy. This new investment in 21st
century technology is a big vote of confidence in the UK renewables
market, a tremendous boost to jobs in the energy and engineering sectors
and a substantial long term benefit to the environment.
“Renewable energy is vital in the fight against dangerous climate
change and the need to use less coal, oil and gas. Developments such
as the new Vestas plant demonstrate that the UK and Europe is serious
about making the Kyoto Protocol work, with or without the United States.
As we approach the international climate conference in Bonn next month,
Tony Blair and John Prescott must stand firm with the European Union
to provide the global leadership that is essential to get the agreement
ratified and into force next year.
[1] As of March, Britain has around 800 grid-connected wind turbines
generating electricity at 60 sites. Presently, all new turbines are
imported, mostly from Denmark and Germany. In April, new projects were
unveiled which will add a further 500-600 turbines at 18 offshore sites,
representing an investment of over £1500 million and providing
enough power for more than one million homes.
More info:
www.britishwindenergy.co.uk
and
www.offshorewindfarms.co.uk
[2] The Utilities Act 2000 will shortly lead to the introduction of
a 'Renewables Obligation' on electricity suppliers requiring them to
increase year by year the proportion of renewable energy they supply
to customers. The Government has set a target of 10% of all power generation
to be from renewable sources by 2010, but was last year criticised by
a Parliamentary Committee who said that in the face of climate change
the target was not enough and should be doubled.
[3] Vestas announcement: www.vestas.com/nyheder/presse/2001/UK/fond20010618_UK.html
& Scottish Executive annoucement: www.scotland.gov.uk/news/2001/06/se1472.asp
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
