Western Morning News - Monday 1 Dec 2003
The
Voice of the Westcountry - WMN Mon Dec 1
Cage rattling? That's our job
IT IS part of
this newspaper's role to air controversial issues and challenge
"establishment" views, particularly when they appear to be out of
step with opinions or concerns of many of our readers. That's why we published
last week the opinions of broadcaster, businessman and country-champion Noel
Edmonds on proposals to increase dramatically the number and size of
energy-generating wind turbines across the Westcountry.
We were concerned that the scale of the plans - part of the Government's policy
to meet an EU-imposed expansion in Britain's renewable energy capacity - had
received scant publicity. We believed that Mr Edmonds, by expressing grave
misgivings, would draw readers' attention to potentially damaging changes to
the landscape and generate a debate. We were right.
Letters - some published in today's WMN - poured in from across the region.
Many were broadly in line with Mr Edmonds' concerns. Many acknowledged - as did
he - that renewable energy is a good thing in principle, but questioned the
notion that building a rash of new turbines, some as tall as St Paul's
Cathedral, is an acceptable way to generate that power in a region as beautiful
as this.
But what we did not expect was the fury of the response from the pro-wind farm
lobby. Those with a vested interest in the construction of scores more turbines
and those responsible for promoting the policy on behalf of the Government went
into overdrive as soon as the first article by Mr Edmonds appeared.
They demanded a right of reply; they poured scorn on some of Mr Edmonds'
opinions and they rubbished the facts he produced in support of his arguments. One even suggested Mr Edmonds was in the
pay of the nuclear industry and that was why he had spoken out against wind
farms with such vigour. The Editor of the WMN, it was suggested, also has some
questionable interest in opposing wind energy.
We were happy
to give them a right of reply. We welcome the chance for a full and open debate
on what is clearly an important issue and have no problem with the supporters
of wind energy challenging Mr Edmonds' arguments - or even the facts on which
they are based, though we know they have been exceedingly well-researched.
But the idea that he - or we - are driven by some
other motive is preposterous and stupid. The fact that it was trotted out in an
effort to discredit the concerns of those opposed to more wind turbines
reveals, perhaps, the lengths to which those who back land-based wind energy
generation are prepared to go to ensure their vision becomes a reality.
When we launched this debate with Mr Edmonds' series of articles our concerns
were confined to the impact that a large number of extra turbines might have on
the most beautiful parts of our region; on tourism and on the people living
near them - because of noise and visual intrusion. We wanted to promote a
well-informed debate on an issue that everyone in our region is likely to be
affected by in one way or another.
We do not ignore the need to reduce Britain's reliance on fossil fuels like
coal, gas or oil because of the impact burning all three is having on the
environment. Nor do we suggest that
expansion of Britain's nuclear capacity is the answer to our future energy
needs.
But that does not mean that we have to approve without question, a rash of new
wind turbines that might well damage or even destroy the quality of the
Westcountry landscape. There are other alternatives, not least offshore wind
farms, wave power generators and the greater use of solar panels.
Yet it seems the Government has decided that many more wind turbines across the
most exposed and therefore most prominent and often beautiful parts of the
Britain is the only game in town. It
also seems as if, having come to that conclusion, ministers and civil servants
have engaged in a bit of arm-twisting to win the support of as many
organisations as possible in order to turn the policy into a reality. Well,
they will not twist ours.
What the WMN does - and continues to do - is draw attention to what might
otherwise have been a fait accompli and simply ask is this really the best way
to generate our power in the decades ahead?
We make no apologies for rattling a few
cages in high places. We like doing that. And like this debate itself, we have
only just started...
----------------------------------------------------------------
Change in Government policy could free up
millions for region's fledgling industry
NEW ALTERNATIVES: Windfarms like this one between Redruth and Newquay could
bring huge benefits to the region, campaigners argue
Investment
boost for green energy sector
Andy Greenwood Environment Correspondent
MILLIONS of
pounds in investment for the Westcountry's emerging renewable energy industry
could be freed up by the Government later today .
Energy Minister Stephen Timms is expected to announce the extension of a
strategic "green energy" certification programme that could release a
reported £2 billion worth of private investment in the fledging UK industry.
Under the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC), energy generating companies
must source an increasing amount of power from "green" sources.
The current target for generators is 10 per cent by 2010. But the short
timescale has deterred investors who are fearful of a policy change in seven
years time.
However today Mr Timms, responding to criticism that the Government is not
doing enough to help the industry, is expected to extend that target to 2020
and possibly increase it to 15 or 20 per cent.
That, said Peter Edwards, who pioneered wind energy by setting up the first
commercial windfarm near Delabole, North Cornwall, in 1991, would inject
"vital confidence" into the market, which could result in huge
benefits for the region.
"At the moment the variation in the possible value of ROCs means that
nobody is prepared to lend money because it could have a value of 16 or
60," he said. "What we said was that if the Government guaranteed a
target, one which we'll never meet as it rolls forward, then the price of ROCs
will keep up.
"It is what the industry needs, to have private investors with the
confidence to put money into renewable schemes.
"It is even more important for the Westcountry because of its enormous
potential."
ROCs have a value because, as an incentive, they are tradeable. Companies that
have a surplus of energy sourced from the renewable sector can sell their
certificates to those who do not.
Firms failing to meet the obligation are liable to penalty payments which are
then shared between certificate holders.
But the big utility companies are still lagging behind their targets despite
having announced programmes requiring huge investment. That has been because
investors have only been willing to back long-term contracts with existing
buyers and have complained they need a longer period to justify the levels of
finance.
Mr Edwards, who is chairman of the Renewable Power Association, said he had
lobbied the minister on this point only a week ago.
"It seems as though the Government is listening to us," he added.
"It is terribly important, because without it nothing will happen. It is
as straightforward as that.
"Without this and other help from the Government our wave energy
developers are simply going to go off to Portugal."
Your views on windfarms - Pages 28 & 29; WMN
Opinion,
Page 10
agreenwood@ westernmorningnews.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------