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BWEA election call on the Welsh Political Parties
Tackle climate change - support wind power
Wednesday 11 April 2007
The major political parties in Wales have been called upon to seriously address climate change in the upcoming National Assembly elections by unequivocally giving their support to wind energy.
With the policy manifestos of Labour, Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats having now all been published, the BWEA, which represents wind, wave and tidal energy technologies, is concerned that not nearly enough attention has been given to generating clean, carbon free energy. This is despite Wales’ exiting renewable energy targets and an obligation to contribute to the increasing UK and EU targets.
Llywelyn Rhys, BWEA Wales Officer explained:
“We have studied the four manifestos in detail. While we note that the four main political parties in Wales want to tackle climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, there is a tendency for them to avoid realistic and practical solutions to achieve this.”
Of particular concern to BWEA is that three of the four manifestos fail to mention wind power, the only technology that will deliver existing renewable energy targets.
Llywelyn Rhys continued:
“It is great that all the parties have policies supporting microgeneration and energy efficiency in buildings: these are certainly one way of reducing our carbon emissions. The technologies of offshore wind, wave and tidal power will also certainly continue to develop and be of increasing importance in reducing future emissions.
“However, politicians need to realise the severity of the situation when talking about climate change and our ability to drastically and immediately reduce our emissions. If we are to cut carbon and achieve the 2010 and 2020 renewable energy targets as well as contribute to the UK and EU targets, then onshore wind power is currently the only game in town.”
BWEA hopes that climate change and energy issues will be one of the main discussion points during the National Assembly election campaign as it reflects the deep concern that the electorate has on the issue. Election candidates of every party are encouraged to join public opinion and voice their support for renewable energy and in particular onshore wind energy as a ready answer to a drastic problem.
Notes to editors:
BWEA critique on the manifestos of the four main political parties in Wales:
Labour
Labour promises to meet the challenges of Climate Change head on by reducing Wales’ carbon footprint and by supporting environmental technology. Despite this general support, Labour’s manifesto fails to identify wind power as the only realistic renewable energy technology that will result in a dramatic reduction when generating electricity. There is no commitment to the continued implementation of the Governments TAN 8 policy on Renewable Energy if Welsh Labour is re-elected.
The manifesto is un-ambitious in tone concerning energy as it mainly concentrates on relatively minor actions such as installing microgeneration and improving energy efficiency in buildings. None of these actions will make a significant contribution or reduce carbon emissions to the level required by UK and EU targets.
Plaid
Plaid promises that its Government would make Wales oil-free within a generation; would invest and work with low-carbon alternative energy-generating technologies, and encourage microgeneration. However, it is disappointing that Plaid does not mention onshore wind power as a modern environmentally sustainable industry, which would be key to achieving its targets of reducing carbon emissions by 3% every year. There is no renewable energy target set out in the manifesto despite such an emphasis on renewable presumably being a fundamental part of the 3% carbon reduction target.
Conservatives
The Conservatives manifesto pledges a strategy to develop renewable energy, setting an energy target of 15% by 2015. It also promises funding for tidal, bio-fuels and hydro technologies. Again, the manifesto fails to identify onshore and offshore wind energy, which is the only practical way of achieving a 15% target in the time required. The manifesto does not explain how the 15% renewable energy target would be alternatively met.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats ambitious target of generating 100% of renewable electricity by 2050, with an aim of 30% being generated by 2030, is certainly to be welcomed. They rightly identify other economic advantages for Wales that will result in driving forward such a policy. The Liberal Democrats is the only main political party to announce continued support for wind power in their manifesto. Despite their preference for offshore wind, which will come to play an increasing part, it would be a mistake to overlook the vital potential contribution of onshore wind, which can deliver present targets and build a foundation for the future.
The Liberal Democrats also pledges to improve National Grid connections, which is vital if wind power is to realize its potential towards the 2010 targets.
Support for wind power
The continuing support for wind energy in Wales has been re-confirmed by the results of the fifth in the ‘Wind Tracker’ opinion poll series, conducted by GfK NOP in August 2006, with 72% of people in Wales agreeing that wind farms are necessary so that we can produce renewable energy to help us meet current and future energy needs in the UK. See www.embracewind.com/wales/waleswweekend.html
For more information on BWEA's work in Wales see www.bwea.com/wales
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