In the past six months we have learned that Wales is to generate massive amounts of renewable energy from predictable, reliable, economic sources such as the Severn tide, Anglesey waves, and mineshaft methane. All of which will provide high-skill, permanent local jobs, unlike wind farms. Isn’t it time that the Welsh Assembly discarded the outdated, TAN 8 inefficient, over-subsidised, unpredictable wind farm policy which will scar our landscape for a generation, and which could damage health, house prices (as Dr John Etherington pointed out in Letters, February 13) and tourism.
Welsh electricity consumers are already paying nearly a quarter more for electricity than England, and recently the EU announced that each household would pay hundreds of pounds extra a year for so called green electricity, most of which goes straight into the wind farm companies’ profits.
The Assembly should follow the courageous example of Neath and Port Talbot Council who recently rejected wind turbines after considering the harm caused by wind farms compared to the minuscule amount of greenhouse gas expensively saved.
Welsh electricity consumers, paying through the nose for electricity (including the 30% experiencing fuel poverty) should get jobs, not a ruined landscape.
DAVID EDWARDS
Chairman, Swatt (South Wales Alternative To Turbines), Glynogwr, Bridgend
18 February 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/02/18/ditch-wind-farm-plans/