Environment and Sustainability Committee
Inquiry into Energy Policy and Planning in Wales

EPP 198 – S Partridge

Dear Mr  Elis-Thomas AC / AM

I am writing to express my concern at the current plans to desecrate the landscape with a discredited, pointless technology.

In mid-Wales we don't have industry to provide employment for our children, our most significant income comes from leisure and tourism. These windfarms and associated pylons degrade our most important asset, the natural beauty of our landscape which attracts the visitors.

As far as a reduction in carbon use, there are many factors which should be taken account of. Because the power from wind turbines is intermittent, they don't provide a replacement for other generating stations, alternatives must still be in place for when the wind doesn't blow. the construction and fuelling of these back-up facilities has a significant carbon footprint.

The construction of the concrete foundations for a wind turbine consumes a huge amount of carbon which takes years of savings from wind energy to pay off as does the associated infrastructure, transport links etc, which also blight the landscape.

The amount of projected disruption caused by the transportation of the turbines, hundreds of journeys over a period of years is intolerable. Our rural road network doesn't have the capacity or even suitable passing places. The disruption to the daily business of residents and the inconvenience to tourists are not justified. Your members should also consider the already poor emergency response times - our ambulance service fails to meet its targets, this really is a matter of life and death.

Finally, the proportion of the huge subsidies which simply flow straight overseas should be considered. If the same funds were spent on many more smaller scale projects, micro generation, insulation, more energy efficient appliances etc. equivalent carbon savings could be made and the money would remain in our local economy. Unemployment and poverty levels in Wales already compare unfavourably with the rest of the UK, these measures would help redress the balance.  

It's a complex issue, it's not good enough to say 'free' wind power must be desirable. When you examine the facts, it's far from free and the overall effects on carbon balance aren't justified, the argument for land based wind power doesn't stand up.

Yours,

S. Partridge