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Danger from Offshore Wind Farms Ignored
The Scotsman ^ | Thu 3 Jun 2004 | Joe Churcher

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: energy; environment; transportation; windpower
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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.

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.

1 posted on 06/04/2004 3:45:16 PM PDT by protest1
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To: protest1

2 posted on 06/04/2004 3:53:55 PM PDT by al baby (Hope I don't get into trouble for this)
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To: farmfriend

ping


3 posted on 06/04/2004 3:54:59 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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To: protest1

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.


4 posted on 06/04/2004 4:11:42 PM PDT by sgtbono2002 (I aint wrong, I aint sorry , and I am probably going to do it again.)
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To: protest1

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.


5 posted on 06/04/2004 4:20:07 PM PDT by 1066AD
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To: protest1
The greens love all sorts of energy sources until they become practical, then they find some reason to hate them. At some point, people will hopefully understand that the greens aren't about saving the environment but trying to cripple technological progress. They are Luddites first.
6 posted on 06/04/2004 4:24:49 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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To: sgtbono2002

Can't have a wind farm near Teddy's joint. It would screw up parking for his Submarine.


7 posted on 06/04/2004 4:28:51 PM PDT by JOE6PAK ("The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein)
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To: 1066AD

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!


8 posted on 06/04/2004 4:48:36 PM PDT by protest1
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To: protest1

Yeah, and them lighthouses are a big threat too.


9 posted on 06/04/2004 4:52:39 PM PDT by Waco
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To: Waco

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.


10 posted on 06/04/2004 5:16:34 PM PDT by protest1
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To: protest1
“We believe that some sort of collision, at some time, is inevitable and that plans must be put in place to deal with it.

Dang. Does that mean we have to get rid of all them pesky islands and continents?

11 posted on 06/04/2004 6:44:14 PM PDT by sionnsar (http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/ ||| sionnsar: the part of the bagpipe where the melody comes out)
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To: sionnsar

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?


12 posted on 06/04/2004 6:47:22 PM PDT by sionnsar (http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/ ||| sionnsar: the part of the bagpipe where the melody comes out)
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To: protest1

Nuclear energy still seems the best alternative in the Us at this point, but the greens will never agree to it.


13 posted on 06/04/2004 6:58:10 PM PDT by arjay ("I don't do bumper stickers." Donald Rumsfeld)
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To: arjay
Right now, in some places, wind power actually makes economic sense. Solar, however, is still pretty pricy, and really makes economic sense only for remote areas that cannot easily be hooked into an existing grid. Nuclear could be much more economical than it is if only there weren't so much red tape.

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.

14 posted on 06/04/2004 7:05:08 PM PDT by Koblenz (There's usually a free market solution)
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To: protest1; biblewonk; abbi_normal_2; Ace2U; adam_az; Alamo-Girl; Alas; alfons; alphadog; amom; ...
Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.
15 posted on 06/04/2004 7:05:55 PM PDT by farmfriend ( In Essentials, Unity...In Non-Essentials, Liberty...In All Things, Charity.)
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To: Koblenz
The Current Projected yield of "Deep Wells, (10-20 miles deep) is that there will be NO OIL SHORTAGE for the Forseeable Future!!

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

16 posted on 06/04/2004 7:30:45 PM PDT by Doc On The Bay
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To: al baby

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?.


17 posted on 06/04/2004 7:30:56 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (The world needs more horses, and fewer Jackasses!)
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To: protest1
Nonsense.

Ships have been sinking after running on rocks for thousands of years ...

Now, with the excellent radar reflections from the towers, better maps, and GPS navigation, the ships are safer than ever.

Wind farm opponents are elitist phonies who abhor REAL technology - especially if it is profitable! - , and would prefer we return to their precious stone age.
18 posted on 06/04/2004 7:36:41 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly ... But Kerry's ABBCNNBCBS press corpse lies every day.)
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To: farmfriend

BTTT!!!!!!!


19 posted on 06/05/2004 3:04:21 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: Doc On The Bay

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.


20 posted on 06/05/2004 3:24:00 AM PDT by IrishCatholic (I am not worried about radical Islam. I am worried about John Kerry.)
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