July 1, 2011
Wales

‘Ministers knew of wind turbine risk’

South Wales Evening Post, www.thisissouthwales.co.uk 1 July 2011

The Welsh Government was warned in 2005 that wind farm developments in Wales could be “on a larger scale” than predicted, the Conservatives have claimed.

Shadow Environment Minister Russell George said a paper written by the Forestry Commission during the development of the government’s planning policy on renewable energy – called TAN 8 – highlighted the risk six years ago.

Earlier this month, First Minister Carwyn Jones said developer interest had “greatly exceeded” TAN 8 limits in some areas.

Mr George said: “This document seems to be at odds with the Welsh Labour Government’s claims they couldn’t possibly have foreseen the scale of wind farm developments in the seven identified Strategic Search Areas.”

He called on Mr Jones, who was Environment minister when TAN 8 was devised, to explain why he chose to ignore the Forestry Commission advice. He added “TAN 8 is a flawed strategy, which is now in urgent need of a thorough cross-party review.”

No response had been received from the Welsh Government at the time of going to press.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/01/ministers-knew-of-wind-turbine-risk/