Changing landscapes
This is my local Windfarm (about 5 /6 miles from where I live). Windfarms have been a contentious issue. I like them generally speaking, at least I like it at this site. Its windswept and barren overgrazed moorland, what better place? I dont think they should be everywhere though. This is a small site, and its due for expansion, which I am happy about. Theres some very vocal objectors however, and its quite hard to get a windfarm built, so only big corporations have the money and power to get them through planning.
As of 2004 Wales had the 12th highest per capita carbon emissions in the world with a 2.5 % increase over 1990 (Theres only 3 million of us though so not such a huge impact). This year the Welsh assembly government,produced its 20 year Renewable Energy Route Map. The plan is that Wales will produce almost 1/3 more energy from renewables than it uses. Sounds great but its pretty wafflely about how this will be achieved. It states that half of the energy would come from marine, a third from wind and the rest mainly from biomass, but is a bit short on nitty gritty of getting things done.
I guess it was not designed to be a controversial document, but it seems pretty obvious that a big part of the marine must rely on the Severn tidal barrage being built, or perhaps the lagoon alternative. Its a sad decision to make. When operational the barrage would produce 17 billion kWh of electricity annually, the UK's carbon emissions would be cut by 16 million tonnes each year, sounds alot but its just 3% of total current emissions, though Ive read sources that say 5 % as well.
The Severn Estuary is designated a Special Area for Conservation. 85,000 migratory and wintering water birds (waders including oystercatchers, curlews, dunlins, ringed plovers etc) depend on the mud-flats which would be lost as a results of construction of the Barrage. In addition coastal erosion would be increased in some locations while additional silting would occur in others. The Barrage would also increase the likelihood of flooding along the coast on the seawardside. Salmon dont so much come up the Severn anymore, but they once did. The project would pretty much kill any hope of restoration. There's less research been done on the lagoon plan, some say they would affect the ecology less. Im glad I dont have to make the decision. I suspect that in one form or another it will be built.
I'm a pretty big fan of biomass in Wales. Ive never been a big fan of the overgrazed hillsides...though I know some people love them. I think that trees and woodland wants to grow here, and its not like sheep farming is hugely profitable. Not that Im saying all sheep farming should go, just that theres a bit of room for diversification into native broadleaf coppice, and forestry, if farmers were given a decent price for it. It could be great for biodiversity, flood control, and recreation as well.
Well I guess the point of this post (goddamn its a lecture, come manifesto) is that landscapes are always changing, we have great control as to how they change. On this overcrowded little island we dont have so much luxury for untouched wilderness, but I really believe that we can and should use our land in ways that minimises negative impacts and maximises positive impacts on other species, and that this should be at the forefront of our minds whenever we design or make decisions about anything.
As of 2004 Wales had the 12th highest per capita carbon emissions in the world with a 2.5 % increase over 1990 (Theres only 3 million of us though so not such a huge impact). This year the Welsh assembly government,produced its 20 year Renewable Energy Route Map. The plan is that Wales will produce almost 1/3 more energy from renewables than it uses. Sounds great but its pretty wafflely about how this will be achieved. It states that half of the energy would come from marine, a third from wind and the rest mainly from biomass, but is a bit short on nitty gritty of getting things done.
I guess it was not designed to be a controversial document, but it seems pretty obvious that a big part of the marine must rely on the Severn tidal barrage being built, or perhaps the lagoon alternative. Its a sad decision to make. When operational the barrage would produce 17 billion kWh of electricity annually, the UK's carbon emissions would be cut by 16 million tonnes each year, sounds alot but its just 3% of total current emissions, though Ive read sources that say 5 % as well.
The Severn Estuary is designated a Special Area for Conservation. 85,000 migratory and wintering water birds (waders including oystercatchers, curlews, dunlins, ringed plovers etc) depend on the mud-flats which would be lost as a results of construction of the Barrage. In addition coastal erosion would be increased in some locations while additional silting would occur in others. The Barrage would also increase the likelihood of flooding along the coast on the seawardside. Salmon dont so much come up the Severn anymore, but they once did. The project would pretty much kill any hope of restoration. There's less research been done on the lagoon plan, some say they would affect the ecology less. Im glad I dont have to make the decision. I suspect that in one form or another it will be built.
I'm a pretty big fan of biomass in Wales. Ive never been a big fan of the overgrazed hillsides...though I know some people love them. I think that trees and woodland wants to grow here, and its not like sheep farming is hugely profitable. Not that Im saying all sheep farming should go, just that theres a bit of room for diversification into native broadleaf coppice, and forestry, if farmers were given a decent price for it. It could be great for biodiversity, flood control, and recreation as well.
Well I guess the point of this post (goddamn its a lecture, come manifesto) is that landscapes are always changing, we have great control as to how they change. On this overcrowded little island we dont have so much luxury for untouched wilderness, but I really believe that we can and should use our land in ways that minimises negative impacts and maximises positive impacts on other species, and that this should be at the forefront of our minds whenever we design or make decisions about anything.
As for the Severn Barrage - I think I have to be anti - I have read a lot about it and I think that although we have to accept changes to the landscape and local ecology , this is just a change too far for too little benefit.
Also looks really romantic.. mmmm.. I dont know why.. looks really pretty..
Bummer...no windfarms where I live, I only know them by photos...