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Green light for wind energy

14 July 2003

The Government today announced the UK's biggest ever expansion in wind energy.

Energy Minister Patricia Hewitt announced plans for huge off-shore wind farms to be built in three areas off the UK coast. The electricity generated is expected to power 15 per cent of all UK households, and create 20,000 new jobs.

The areas where the turbines are to be built are:

  • the Thames Estuary
  • the Greater Wash

  • the North West

The Government is aiming to source 10 per cent of UK electricity from renewable power by 2010. Friends of the Earth is calling for a more ambitious target of at least 25 per cent by 2020 to ensure that the expansion in renewables continues.

Friends of the Earth's Energy campaigner Bryony Worthington said:

"We are delighted that the government has given the green light to this huge expansion in wind energy. It will create thousands of jobs and marks a sea change in UK energy policy. But it should be just the start. We now need a similar commitment to harnessing the energy potential of biomass, waves, tides and the sun to replace dirty nuclear and fossil fuel dinosaurs."

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust

 

 

Last modified: Jun 2008