Windfarms could blow up cash for Assembly
MONEY-SPINNING wind turbines in the forests of Wales could create tens of millions of pounds out of thin air for the Assembly Government.
Four wind farm developers are lining up new turbines in six areas of Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) land.
One of them, Nuon UK, wants to install around 100 turbines at the Pen y Cymoedd Morgannwg Forestry Commission estate between the Neath, Afan and Rhondda valleys.
Nuon UK and the other three developers must pay the Assembly Government money as the turbines generate electricity.
If the maximum amount of turbines earmarked by Assembly leaders are built on FCW land, the Assembly will earn between £1.9 million to £3.6 million a year for 25 years. But that figure will increase if electricity prices rise.
The money-spinning arrangement has been questioned in some quarters.
"Around 500 hectares of trees will have to be felled for these wind turbines," said Ian Gardner, of Bangor University, who has submitted evidence on wind power to an Assembly committee.
"It would be interesting to see if the people of Wales valued what will happen to their forests at two or three million pounds a year."
An Assembly Government spokeswoman said some of the income would be used to set up community trust funds for the areas where the wind turbines were situated.
But she could not confirm whether or not developers would pay a separate fee for renting the FCW land.
She added that the exact proportion of money for community trust funds was not yet known.
Mr Gardner said: "It would be much more equitable to distribute all the income where the wind turbines are."
It is normal practice for developers to set up community funds when they install a wind farm — but these funds cannot be used to encourage permission for a scheme that is otherwise unacceptable in planning terms.
When the FCW wind turbine proposals were first announced, First Minister Rhodri Morgan stressed all the developments would be subject to the normal independent processes of planning approval.
The Assembly spokeswoman confirmed it would receive an estimated £1.9million to £3.6million a year for 25 years if turbines are built on all six areas of FCW land.
"These are index-linked to electricity prices and are therefore subject to change," she said.
7 Comments
View all
by William Williams, Landare CWMDARE
Wednesday, January 21 2009, 7:11PM
“Keep away from Cwmdare I have retired and have lived in the Cynon Valley all my life, I have suffered coal mines in every village of the valley, a phurnacite plant for several years, polluting and killing the fauna., and now you want to destroy the landscape, just when the valley is beginng to recover its beauty. You now want to dig up our beautiful countryside and plant concrete monsters that roar from day to day . This is not on, and please ! everyone that feel the same as myself use your voice and support any group that objects to this money making project that these people are trying to make us think we will benifit from. We never benifited from the coalmines, I lived in a house where you went to bed and woke in the morning unable to open the bedroom door, subsidence !, some benifit. Women could not hang out washing to dry with the dust from the Phurnacite, some benifit. My Father, and Father- in-law died of industrial desease, some benifit. I wonder what will turn up as a benifit from wind farms in half a century from now.”
by Neil Hinds, Swansea
Sunday, January 04 2009, 6:45PM
“This is a terrible idea, destroying the natural beauty and carbon sinks just for extra money. And for a "clean" energy that is highly inefficient. For wind power to effect our countries green needs, every speck of available land would have to be used.
Why doesn't the government step up and push through the tidal lagoon in Swansea bay? that would generate more power for the national grid and would not damage our lands.
Terrible Terrible Idea and I truely hope the assembly is not just there to earn extra money.”
by Steven Thomas, Llandinham (Powys)
Saturday, January 03 2009, 5:07PM
“Why so much talk about 'community funds'? Why give funds for a huge energy project that apparently is benefitting Wales and the rest of the world. We don't need funds or compensation, we require a rational energy system not a symbol of greed. WInd turbines were initially seen as a symbol of greeness once upon a time. How many have noticed back-peddling by BWEA and other more credible experts from green credentials and the preoccupation with "funds" and money. Think again dear energy user - this is one of the political issues that will be instrumental in bringing governements to their knees!”
by Mike Pritchard, Llandudno
Saturday, January 03 2009, 8:49AM
“The truth is OUT, Global Warming Out, Climate Change OUT, Energy Security OUT. Its Money,Money, Money.
Wake up Wales before our politicians trash our countryside and sea scapes.”
by ioan, swansea valley
Friday, January 02 2009, 8:26PM
“We've said it until we are blue in the face - HALF the Wind Turbine incomes comes from public subsidy. Why don't we just pay it as a Tax to the Wind Turbine Developers or the Landowners - the Assembly in this Forestry case? That would cause a public outcry. So why no public outcry about the Wind Turbines ripping you off Joe Public?”