WIND CAN REGENERATE UK

Wind can power regeneration; Using old shipyards to manufacture turbines will bring jobs to some of Britain's most disadvantaged areas

Adam Bell, 11 February 2010 (UK Guardian)

"Unemployment [in the UK] stands at 2.5 million people. Even though the economy is (marginally) picking up, we can't waste the opportunity to generate new jobs and income that the expansion of wind power in the North Sea represents. That's why EmbraceMyPlanet, the campaign for renewables, welcomes…plans for linking the regeneration of disused shipyards to creating green jobs and supporting windfarms.

"…[A parliamentary initiative would] convert old shipyards into wind turbine production centres, by providing a £400m redevelopment fund. Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, Middlesbrough, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow would then be able to bid for funding to be one of the seven new ports that the coming expansion of offshore wind will need. This could lead to the creation of 57,000 jobs in some of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the country."

The people of the UK want wind. (click to enlarge)

"The potential for wind power to reinvigorate British manufacturing [not discussed enough] is clear, with the planned new Mabey Bridge turbine construction facility in Wales creating 240 new skilled jobs…[Much has been] heard about the dangerous impacts of rising temperatures, but very little [is] heard about the enormous economic opportunities from reducing greenhouse gases…

"China understands this all too well. It has already overtaken the US in the number of new wind turbines being built, and funding for its transition to a low carbon economy stands at $500bn – more than half of the UK's total budget. The Chinese government has generated demand for wind power, and an unwritten rule that states at least 70% of installed turbines must be sourced from Chinese manufacturers guarantees their place at the top of the supply chain."

The people of the UK prefer living with wind to living with climate change. (click to enlarge)

"…[The parliamentary] proposal will aid the expansion of the supply side of wind turbines…[but the UK is] at an historic low for planning approvals for windfarms, with only one in four applications getting passed at the first opportunity…[and if there is no] domestic market, it becomes economically impossible to build turbines in the UK…

"This is why we're trying to give a voice to the silent majority - more than 80% - who want to see the expansion of wind energy…EmbraceMyPlanet will help these people…support renewable energy: the website directs campaigners to their nearest windfarm application, provides them with a link to lobby their local MP to support it, and the facility to connect with like-minded people, organise local events and campaign to counter opposition."