Welcome for offshore wind expansion

8 January 2010

Government proposals to build two large windfarms off the Welsh coast have been welcomed by Friends of the Earth Cymru. One will be in the north Irish Sea and the other in the Bristol Chanel and both will be much further out to sea than existing offshore windfarms.

The Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gordon James, said:

"We welcome the government's proposal to build two large windfarms off the coast of Wales as part of a major expansion in wind energy for the UK. Large renewable energy projects are vital if we are to make sufficient cuts in emissions of climate-changing gases, reduce our dependence on gas imports and create thousands of new jobs in the green economy.

"While this proposal will also help Wales meet its ambition of becoming a world leader in green energy, we have a lot of catching up to do. The wind industry has created 80,000 jobs in Germany, 30,000 in Spain and 20,000 in Denmark compared to around 6,000 in Britain.

"It is estimated that a major expansion in offshore wind could create around 40,000 new jobs in the UK. We urge the Welsh Assembly Government to do everything possible to ensure that many of these new jobs come to Wales."

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577