Green Party leader welcomes wind farm decision

8 January 2010

 

Caroline Lucas has welcomed today's announcement by the Crown Estate that the wind farm proposed to be built off the Sussex coast will go ahead. One of 9 proposed sites being decided on this week, the ‘Hastings wind farm' development will be built offshore between Brighton and Newhaven. It will be made up of 100 turbines which together could provide up to 500 MW of electricity, enough power for 250,000 households (1).

Lucas said, "It is encouraging to see progress finally being made on offshore wind. But the efforts must not stop there.

"The UK gets less of its energy from renewable sources than almost any other EU country, and is one of the highest greenhouse gas emitters as a result. What we need is an energy infrastructure overhaul, with massive investment in diverse renewable sources to slash emissions. Energy efficiency is also crucial; a huge impact could be made with policies which truly help people cut their energy use. Providing free insulation for all homes - as we would do - is the sort of action we need right now."

Crucially, projects like the Hastings wind farm can also aid economic regeneration. The government estimates, that if all 9 projects being considered this week were given the go-ahead, 60,000 jobs could be created (2).

She continued,

"But these new jobs must be created in the UK rather than exported. Over 90% of the €2bn earmarked for the London Array wind farm - the world's largest - is being spent abroad (3). This demonstrates the government's failure to match its rhetoric on green jobs with action, as did its spectacular failure over Vestas. Renewable energy infrastructure will continue to be produced abroad unless the government starts supporting green industries here. Rather than allowing plants like Vestas to close, the government should be investing massively to support these new industries."

The Green Party's general election campaign will prioritise public spending on job-creation projects to help tackle the recession as well as dramatically reducing CO2 emissions and strongly promote the Greens' agenda of "fighting for a fairer society."

"Good News for Local Economy"

Lucas, tipped by pollsters to win the Brighton Pavilion seat in the coming general election, concluded:

"This is extremely good news, both for local energy supplies and for the local economy. The "Hastings" wind farm could produce enough power for 250,000 households, as well as creating thousands of new jobs. I'm particularly delighted that local company Searoc will be deeply involved as a partner organisation, underlining the huge potential of Brighton and Hove as a Greentech centre."

1. http://www.heartsussex.co.uk/Article.asp?id=1236222
2. http://www.newenergyfocus.com/do/ecco/view_item?listid=1&listcatid=32&listitemid=3400§ion=Wind
3. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/03/manufacturing-sector-slams-darling-claim-government-supports-green-jobs

 

 

 

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