Mynydd Llansadwrn Action Group

Help Protect our Welsh Mountain Landscapes

The politicians’s plans for Wales

• Inquiry into Energy in Wales by the Welsh Affairs Committee of Parliament

The MLAG has sent the following submission letter to the committee.

Click here to read the attached submission document.

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Mynydd Llansadwrn Action Group

30 November 2005

To: Clerk of the Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA

Re: Inquiry into Energy in Wales

The Mynydd Llansadwrn Action Group wishes to make both written and oral representation to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.

The Mynydd Llansadwrn Action Group – membership approximately 200 – was formed in 2003 in response to a proposal for a wind turbine development on Mynydd Llansadwrn. Our first reaction was to oppose a potential threat to the local landscape and our quality of life. However, both the UK Government and Welsh Assembly promote wind power as a viable strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. In view of this, we were willing to consider the greater good and endure the negative aspects of wind farms on our hills.

However, our research into the field of wind energy soon revealed that wind energy, as well as being deeply unpopular with local residents because of the visual intrusion, noise and environmental damage, has several other serious drawbacks. Wind power is an unreliable and intermittent source of energy that does not provide firm generating capacity; it is extremely expensive when compared to almost every other energy source; and, it has been shown to be of limited value in reducing carbon dioxide emissions because of the need for spinning reserve backup from fossil-fuelled power plants.

We accept the need for an energy policy that focuses on emissions reduction but have come to the conclusion that wind power is not a useful technology for achieving this policy objective. Although not in a position to comment on other renewable technologies, we have acquired considerable expertise on the subject of wind power.

We enclose written evidence to support our views. A member of our group would like to make an oral presentation to the Committee.

We look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Joanne Jessop

on behalf of the Mynydd Llansadwrn Action Group