Green correpondant George Monbiot recently took apart Shaun Spiers in an interview trying to establish why the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) regularly opposes wind energy projects but not open cast mining.
Shaun Spiers struggled to stand by Cornish CPRE members who have posted a petition wholly opposing onshore and offshore wind energy on a government web-site. He also could not justify why so much attention is focussed on wind energy and not on the huge landscape impacts of coal mining aside from being a small charity with little resource.
We live in a democratic society and everyone has the right to be heard. However it is right that groups such as the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) are challenged on their views when they enjoy the recognised status that they do – for example their sway with local planning committees who make the decisions on renewable energy projects. These groups also have a responsibility to not issue incorrect information and facts.
Wind energy projects need to be sensitively designed and of a scale that is appropriate for the host landscape. Wind turbines take up very little land area (the foundations are around 15m x 15m) and although very tall and visible, the landscape is not torn apart in the same way it is for coal mining.
I believe that George hit the nail on the head when he referred to the CPRE membership as largely middle class living away from the coal mining areas but potentially close to areas with potential for wind energy. For a very long time the coal mining areas in Wales, the Midlands and the North of England provided us with most of the energy we needed. It is about time that other areas of the country such as the South and South West start to do their bit and make a meaningful contribution towards the UK renewable energy supply rather than pushing it away to more deprived areas.
Picture above of Monbiot
