Published: 10 May 2006
Renewable energy potential and not the Barrage
WWF Cymru urges Assembly Members to expand the debate about the renewable energy potential of estuaries (such as the Severn) and not to focus solely on the Severn Barrage as the only option.
Today (10 May), an agenda item has been set in plenary to discuss the ‘Severn Barrage - The Way Forward’ and tomorrow members if the Environment, Planning and Countryside (EPC) will have an opportunity to
discuss Carwyn Jones, Minister for EPC's report on the Barrage.
WWF Cymru feels the debate should not be solely about the Severn Barrage. It feels the Assembly should invest more into other forms of renewable energy such as offshore wind farms, wave and tidal generators
and tidal lagoons.
It does not support the Barrage because of the damage caused by its construction and the associated infrastructure developments.
According to WWF Cymru building a 10 mile concrete barrage across one of Europe's most environmentally protected estuaries is not only going to cause irretrievable damage to wildlife and habitats, but could also be
illegal.
Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru. Said:
"The National Assembly for Wales and its predecessor the Welsh Office were the ones who recommended the Severn Estuary for protection under European environmental laws in the first place.
Building a Severn Barrage would therefore contravene the Government's own policies and
therefore raises questions about its legality.
We need renewable energy to reduce our impact on the climate, but the potential saving in carbon dioxide emissions from a barrage will not be fully achieved because of the huge cost in the construction and
transportation of materials.
If housing, road links, commercial development and airport developments are built as part of the
development, CO2 emissions will soar”.
He added:
“The cost has been estimated at up to £14 billion, but with additional infrastructure the cost is likely to be much higher.
The Welsh Assembly Government should be doing more to promote energy efficiency; one of the most effective ways to address our energy problem is to use less of it in the first instance.
The Severn Barrage will undoubtedly take funding away from smaller renewable projects and
microgeneration”.
WWF Cymru would welcome the opportunity to feed into the Assembly's review of the Severn Estuary and would support the need to evaluate other forms of renewables.
Further information
WWF - Cymru
WAG - Environment, Planning and Countryside (EPC)
Related article: WWF Cymru's response to the Severn Barrage proposal
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