This month the government announced that local communities would get a say in energy policies-a breakthrough it would seem regarding local democracy. However all was not what it seemed... the result is that local communities have the right to stop wind farms being built. The humble turbine it seems has managed to bring communities together in a way that nuclear, fracking and opencast cannot. For none of these forms of fossil fuel can be vetoed by public demand despite being far more devastating to the environment than any turbine. What we are really seeing the power of the fossil fuel industry. Opinion polls show two thirds of the UK population approve of renewables in general and wind farms in particular and with the renewables programme costing each bill payer the princely sum of £21.00 per year, it's hardly the poverty generator it's critics claim. Nor are renewables a failure elsewhere. Germany, Austria and Denmark among others get a third or more of their energy from renewables and they are hardly basket cases when it comes to their economies or standards of living. Alas in Britain we still have a powerful lobby that is addicted to fossil fuels and is still able to pressurise the Government into feeding its addiction. But it's not all bad news. Soon to open is Pen y Cymoedd, Wales largest wind farm. It will boost renewable energy production by 37% and add £1 Billion to the Welsh economy.
Not bad going for such a maligned device. If we want more renewable projects like this (and 66% of us do) we the majority will have to bring our collective pressure to bear. A bright renewable future needs to trump the fossil fools every time.
Nigel Baker
For more information go to:http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/oil
Comments