WWF Wales

FoE Wales

After months of campaigning last year by active supporters in Wales, Bristol and beyond, we all got the result that we've been waiting for. On 7 July a planning committee at the Welsh Assembly gave the Scarweather Sands offshore wind farm the go ahead. Thanks to all who gave up their time to allow the people of South Wales to voice their support for wind power!

But the battle is not yet won. In September, this decision must be approved by all Welsh Assembly Members. If 10 or more object then Assembly Members must vote to support the proposal. It will be accepted if a majority of members vote to uphold the decision.

Greenpeace, WWF Wales and FoE Wales are asking for your help to support this wind farm which is a vital step on the way to preventing the worst effects of climate change.

You can help make Scarweather Sands a reality by emailing Carwyn Jones AM, Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside and Andrew Davies AM, Minister for Economic Development and Transport now.

If you live in Wales then you can:

- write to your Assembly Member in support

-write a letter to your local or national newspaper and demonstrating that there is widespread public support for wind power in Wales. You can send an e-letter to any of the papers listed below by clicking on it's link.

General information on letter writing can be found here. Points to mention in your letter include:

Wind power is a vital solution to the urgent threat of climate change

The World Health Organisation estimates over 150,000 people are already dying every year as a result of climate change

A recent scientific analysis of the extinction risk from climate change indicates that if we do not act now one in three land based species will be committed to extinction by 2050 - with rapid emissions reductions this could be limited to one in five.

Without urgent action to stop the CO2 pollution from dirty coal and oil power stations and petrol, the impacts of global warming will get worse, much worse.

Wind energy is popular

A recent ICM poll of local residents showed that three times as many support Scarweather Sands Wind Farm than oppose it.

Wind energy is the key to a clean energy future

This pioneering new wind farm will put South Wales at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy future. Scarweather Sands wind farm will produce enough electricity to meet the needs of 80,000 homes - that’s equivalent to a town the size of Swansea.

Wind energy is clean and endlessly renewable. Along with wave, tidal and solar it is the cleanest, safest form of energy there is. The Scarweather Sands wind farm won’t affect ‘Blue Flag’ status of local beaches. It won’t damage the surf. Unlike gas and coal power stations, it won’t contribute to global warming and unlike nuclear power it won’t leave us with a legacy of dangerous radioactive waste.

Nuclear threat

The government has recently given it’s backing to clean energy, but has indicated that if renewable energy technologies such as wind power aren’t successful, new nuclear power stations could be built in order to secure the necessary carbon dioxide cuts to tackle climate change.