Some of the practical problems facing the development of Wind Energy
in Wales can be seen from the following account from the European
Wind Energy Association of a project in North Wales.
Leading from Behind
This is an example of the continuing frustration faced by the
UK wind energy industry.
Earlier this summer, after years of investigation, consultation and
negotiation, an
application to build a 39 MW wind farm at Pentrefoelas in north Wales was
finally agreed
by the local Conwy council. The vote was 19-2 in favour.
All five Community councils in the area also supported the plan.
Developers National Wind Power had done everything possible to satisfy
local concerns. The £33 million scheme promised substantial regional
employment, an annual income from rates,
rent and community support of £350,000, and enough clean energy to satisfy
20% of the borough's needs.
The height of the towers was reduced by ten metres and a detailed
land management package had been worked out for the moorland location. The
proposal was supported by green campaigners Friends of the Earth.
Unfortunately, this proved only a paper success. Just before the crucial
vote, the
application was called in by the Welsh national environment
department for
further consideration of its ecological effect. The developers now face an
estimated
£100,000 bill for fighting a quasi-judicial public inquiry, at least a year
delay
and an uncertain outcome. Nobody could blame them if they threw in the
towel.
Prejudice and obstruction
A version of this story could be repeated up and down Britain over the past
few years. In
a climate where wind schemes have been battered by protests, prejudice and
head in the
sand obstruction, it is no longer reasonable to blame developers for being
cavalier about
local opinion. In East Anglia, for example, there has been the spectacle of
the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds, at the same time as promoting its own
brand of green
electricity, trying to stop a wind farm because of the (alleged) danger to
swans. Too many
people now have a mindset that a wind turbine in their area is like some
invading monster.
Never mind climate change and the need for clean energy.
The underlying problem is that there is no political leadership on the
issue. Apart from
eventually exempting them from the climate change tax, the three year old
Labour
government has done nothing serious to promote renewables. Whilst the
admittedly flawed
Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation has been laid to rest, nothing is yet up and
running to take
its place. Green electricity marketing schemes are growing, but they have
precious little
capacity in which to trade. And all this in a country which has the best
wind resource in Europe.
One positive sign is that some developers are getting their smaller projects
built on the back of popular demand.
The example of Swaffham, where the town has actually requested a
second 1.5 MW turbine, is classic. There are also a number of independent
local action groups now standing up in favour of wind projects.
Good as this sounds, it will not get Britain's wind industry moving
again. That
requires both political leadership and a renewables support scheme that is
clear,
straightforward, secure and rooted in the imperative to combat climate
change.
Volume XIX No. 6 - SEPTEMBER 2000
This article originally appeared in
Wind Directions, the magazine of the
European Wind Energy Association. For more information, please visit:
www.ewea.org
or contact the EWEA at 26 Rue du Trone, B-1000 Brussels,
Belgium (Tel: +32 2 546 1940; Fax: 1944; Email: ewea@ewea.org).
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