Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A UK Government report [1] condemns the Hafren Power business consortium’s claims for a Severn barrage as lacking any credible evidence. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “This barrage dinosaur needs to be finally laid to rest, to make way for new technologies that can actually start harnessing the massive tidal power of the Severn. “For years, it’s been clear that the environmental and economic problems of a large-scale Severn barrage are virtually impossible to overcome - and there are far better schemes that deserve committed government support. “The UK and Welsh Governments should now get behind smaller scale projects capable of delivering clean, green energy from the Severn. We have the potential for a world-leading industry, which could be based right here in south Wales”. NOTES 1. The EEC’s report: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmenergy/622/62202.htm

A Severn barrage could become one of the most expensive renewable energy schemes in history, the Welsh Affairs Committee will be told tomorrow (Wednesday 9 January). Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, will be presenting evidence to the committee in Westminster. He said: “Building a huge barrage across an important habitat makes no sense for jobs, for energy, or for the environment. “The future for electricity generation is in decentralised renewable electricity networks. The costs of solar and onshore wind are falling steadily, and will soon leave the business case for a barrage dead in the water. “A barrage won’t be powering a single light bulb until at least 2025. By then it could be one of the most expensive renewable energy schemes in history. “If we’re going to attract billions of pounds in private finance, let’s invest in major refurbishment for our dilapidated housing stock. That could make 10 times the carbon savings of a barrage, and provide a jobs and busi...

Lord Heseltine, the former Conservative party deputy prime minister, has said in a new report that a Severn barrage offers the possibility of a source of energy and economic regeneration. But a massive barrage across the Severn is the wrong option for the economy, for clean energy, and for the environment, says Friends of the Earth Cymru. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “The UK Government needs to take strong action to support our already thriving green economy. “But after decades of trying, there has yet to be a realistic proposal for a barrage across the Severn that doesn’t come with a massive price tag and have devastating environmental impact. “If just a fraction of the investment needed to build a concrete barrage was spent on energy efficiency, thousands more jobs would be created. And there are better solutions for capturing the tidal power of the Severn that would have much less damaging consequences, and could give us green energy far sooner than th...