Wales is set to miss 2010 wind energy targets because of the low approval rate for wind farms, according to a report published by renewable business body BWEA Cymru this week.
While Scotland and Northern Ireland are on course to install enough wind capacity to reach targets, Wales will miss their own target of an extra 800MW of wind energy by 2010.
The targets were set in 2005 but so far only 250MW of wind power has been approved and construction has begun on just 100MW. BWEA Cymru believes red tape is damaging Wales's chances of becoming a ‘Green Tiger Economy’.
Maria McCaffery MBE, BWEA Chief Executive, said: “Wales is missing out on its potential to be a Green Celtic Tiger Economy. The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) wants Wales to be self-sufficient in renewable energy by 2028. That bold vision requires the right political decisions to approve planning applications on the ground. As it stands today, decisions are just not being made.”
On average a wind farm scheme takes a year to be approved, causing a backlog in many Welsh local authorities. The report calls on WAG to make a renewed effort to shorten the time it takes for a local authority to deal with wind turbine applications.
Llywelyn Rhys, Head of BWEA Cymru, said: “Wales should seize the opportunity to revive its manufacturing base and set an example for the rest of the UK and Europe by embracing a clean energy revolution and saying YES to wind.”
However, wind farm campaign group South Wales Alternatives To Turbines (SWATT) claims they cause house prices to fall, noise pollution, increased traffic and loss of views.
SWATT has been campaigning against the erection of two large wind turbine projects in South Wales.
SWATT’S group chairman David Edwards, of Glynogwr, said: “The Assembly will invest £23 million in tourism, yet these wind farms could decimate the local tourism industry. They’re looking at creating a new mountain bike network across the heads of the valleys and building hotels and hostels, but who will want to come here when there’s wind farms everywhere?”
Dan, London around 2 years, 6 months ago