Posted on 06/04/2004 3:45:14 PM PDT by protest1
Thu 3 Jun 2004
10:18pm (UK) Danger from Offshore Wind Farms Ignored, Say MPs
By Joe Churcher, Political Staff, PA News
The danger posed to shipping from massive offshore wind farms has been ignored by the Government as it bids to meet green energy targets, MPs warned today.
A damning report found a collision with the proposed sites was “inevitable” and that the entire project had been “woefully mishandled” by ministers.
The Commons Transport Committee expressed bewilderment that shipping and maritime bodies had not been included by the Department of Trade and Industry in consultations on where to allow the facilities to be built.
And it questioned why the Department of Transport did not insist on being involved, calling the process “departmental government at its worst”.
The wind farms, some of which could cover an area the size of Nottingham, are seen as the key to meeting the aim of having 10% of Britain’s energy needs met from renewable sources by 2010.
The committee, chaired by Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, launched its probe after safety concerns were raised in the Lords during a debate on the Government’s Energy Bill.
With the legislation, which will pave the way for a massive expansion of offshore wind farms, due to be debated by the Commons soon, the report made a number of recommendations.
It called on the Government to ensure safeguards were kept in the Bill so that future developments cannot go ahead without safety being considered.
It also calls for present projects to be put on hold while their locations are considered by shipping interests.
The report said: “Many of the sites chosen for further evaluation may have serious impact on maritime operations.
“It is imperative that the concerns of the ports, the shipping industry and all those who use the sea are properly addressed in their further evaluation.
“Consents should only be granted to installations which can be shown not to compromise the safety of navigation.
“If the research needed to achieve this has not yet been done then the consent will have to be delayed.
“If the size of installation proposed cannot be sited safely within the (Government set) areas then the Government and industry will have to think again.
“The Government has woefully mishandled the development of offshore wind energy.”
It said the commercial interests of energy firms “should not compromise marine safety or the country’s economic interests.”
“We believe that some sort of collision, at some time, is inevitable and that plans must be put in place to deal with it.
Ain't government amazing? In there haste to meet "green energy targets" they forget to ask anyone actually involved with the seas around Britain what their views are on huge off shore wind farms.
ping
We dont have to worry about wind farms here, as long as the plan is to put them off Senator Kennedys waterfront property we will never see them.
I admire Blair's stance on Iraq but in every other respect his "New Labour" is as big a fustercluck as "old" Labour... class warfare, tax & spend, make ever more people gov't employees etc.
Can't have a wind farm near Teddy's joint. It would screw up parking for his Submarine.
Tend to agree with you on that. Before Afghanistan and Iraq I did not like him and "New Labour" at all. But do admire him for his stand on Iraq. Pity he is wrong on everything else!
Yeah, and them lighthouses are a big threat too.
No, not really off shore lighthouses are built on rocks that are already a BIG danger to shipping. So that makes them much less of a danger. Also there are fewer of them that even one wind farm has towers.
Dang. Does that mean we have to get rid of all them pesky islands and continents?
But let's look on the bright side. IF (big IF) they're right and global warming is caused by CO2 emissions, then all we have to do is increase them more and in a few more years... no more icebergs and shipping is safer. Right?
Nuclear energy still seems the best alternative in the Us at this point, but the greens will never agree to it.
If the price of oil goes up more -- and I don't think it will go up that much more for a while but I could be wrong -- then people will begin to carefully evaluate alternative energy.
The Latest "Info" from the "Scientific Types" in the Oil Industry indicates that there are VAST OIL RESERVES under our Current "Oil Fields."
If the "Data" is Correct, the ENTIRE "Oil Economy" is IRRELEVANT!!
If the "Deep Wells" Produce a FRACTION of Their Projected Yields, "OPEC" is FINISHED!!
WHAT FUN!!
If America becomes COMPLETELY "Oil INDEPENDANT of the "Middle East;" the ENTIRE political Picture Changes.
Interesting Times!!
Doc
Dear Lordamighty!
Up until now, I done thunkt'd they wast talking "offshore" as in "on offshore islands"...as in all that low-lying shoreline in the background of the pic.
This defies reason, and boggles the mind!
Unless this is something like the Berkeley Mudflats; completely exposed at low tide?.
BTTT!!!!!!!
Actually we get less from the Middle East than South America. Around 10%. It is Europe that gets over 35% from the Middle East. Our concern is propping up their oil security so their economic crash doesn't cause ours. Of course, they are very grateful for this and fall all over themselves showing their support for America.
If you have any links to the deep oil drilling stories that are of interest I would check them out. It sounds like good news.
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