The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) is disappointed that the
Welsh Assembly Government�s (WAG) new planning framework (TAN 8) is a �one
horse� energy policy instrument, supporting deployment of more turbines in some
of Wales�s most spectacular landscapes. It�s little more than a highly visible
�quick fix� response to the need to find reliable, credible alternatives to
fossil fuel dependence.
John Edwards, the newly elected chair of CPRW, says: "This planning instruction
from the Welsh Assembly subverts decades of protection for our hills and
coastline. It is designed to force reluctant County Councillors and communities
to allow giant turbines in their landscapes. Land based wind turbines are
political tokens. They will never make any contribution to global warming that
compensates for their damage to Wales' most precious asset; its unique
landscapes."
By not supporting and encouraging a wider mix of renewables, such as tidal
lagoons, hydro power, solar and biomass, WAG has failed to lead Wales into an
innovative, cleaner, greener future. CPRW finds it difficult to accept that
targeting 4TWh electricity from wind by 2010 is based on rational analysis. Set
against recent increases in UK fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, it
seems little more than Government by whim � why 4TWh as opposed to 3.8 or even
4.3? CPRW believes the artificiality of the 2010 target horizon combined with
its short-term political imperatives, deliberately and unfairly distorts the
balance of renewable technologies in favour of wind.
WAG seemed deaf to the 1700, largely critical, responses to the lengthy TAN8
public consultation. It changed little, but could have delivered policy
instruments supporting a range of renewables along with significant
policy-driven energy conservation targets. Instead, it chose a single generating
technology, ensuring a Klondike-like rush to industrialise some of Wales� best
landscapes. TAN8 seriously distorts the options for a greener future.
Wind power has its place in the mix of renewable technologies but CPRW believes
it should be deployed with great caution in Wales� economically important
tourism landscapes. Its outputs are small and unreliable set against overall
energy demands. These limitations need weighing against its huge visual impact.
WAG�s unimaginative dependence on it will lead to more wind power stations. Most
will be developed by large multinationals, providing little of lasting benefit
to the rural communities whose homes and landscapes will be blighted by
turbines. Tourism jobs created by quality landscapes cannot be exported. Wind
turbines can be manufactured anywhere. At little extra cost WAG could be siting
them off-shore.
Notes for Editors
The Assembly�s target for renewable energy is 4 TWh (terawatt-hours) per annum,
designed to propel Wales to 10% of its anticipated 40TWh electricity generation
in 2010. No mention is made of the simple fact that actually we only use half
this amount in Wales.
Wales already produces 1.4TWh from renewables towards the target. When its
consultation process first began, the Assembly Government published a proposal
for a �three-way split� to bridge the gap with equal thirds coming from onshore
wind, offshore wind, and other renewables. In the TAN 8 consultation paper it
instead proposed that the planning system should deliver 2TWh pa from 800MW
capacity of onshore wind, about 0.7TWh from 200MW of offshore wind, and
virtually nothing from other sources. Despite criticism from many quarters this
remains unchanged in TAN 8, thus focussing on the most controversial technology
at the expense of more acceptable emerging alternatives.
The Assembly has ignored the evidence given to its Sustainable Energy Group that
two other emerging offshore schemes could contribute almost 3TWh before 2010 �
capable of racing past the target themselves. At Gwynt y Mor 10 miles offshore
from Abergele npower Renewables proposes 750 turbines to generate 2.6TWh while
Tidal Electric proposes a lagoon in Swansea Bay yielding 0.3TWh. Neither of
these is included in the projections.
The seven Strategic Areas which are intended to provide the extra wind power in
schemes above 25MW (10 � 15 machines) now have more detailed boundaries, but are
drawn essentially within the same general outlines. A few have slightly lower
targets, some have more. Many contain extensive forestry plantations where the
necessarily massive clear-felling is downplayed, and the Forestry Commission
seems to be transformed into a turbine-site provider. �Significant landscape
change� is now a stated objective in areas that have until now been regarded as
major and protected parts of the scenic resources of the Welsh uplands.
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