17 May 2007

North Devon MP NICK HARVEY has welcomed the unveiling of plans for a huge offshore wind power development 20 kilometres off the North Devon coast.

“This exciting proposal is brilliant news for North Devon and the South West and has my total support. Being thirty times the size of the controversial land-based proposal at Fullabrook, this can make a really significant contribution to protecting the environment.

“And being 20 kilometres off the North Devon coast, it has none of the damaging landscape effects or their potential economic impacts.

“Indeed it could prove to be a bonanza for Ilfracombe, which being the nearest port stands a good chance of becoming the home base for the development.

“It could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Ilfracombe to make a reality of the aspirations it has to develop its harbour area.

“It is vital that Devon county and North Devon district councils – and the south west regional development agency – get right behind this plan.

“I shall certainly be doing everything possible to help. During the construction phase (8-10 years) this could create hundreds of jobs, and in the longer term as many as 150 permanent jobs.

“This will be the biggest wind development to date in the UK, and one of the biggest in the world.  I am proud that North Devon could get to host the scheme, and I hope that everyone will pull together to ensure that it becomes a reality.”

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BACKGROUND NOTES:

1. The scheme would have a generating capacity of 1,500 MW and would cover 350 km2
2. The power would be delivered by cable to the electricity grid at Alverdiscott, North Devon
3. The development could supply the electricity needs of 1.125 million houses ~ 53% of the south west.
4. It will offset the production of 3 million tonnes of CO2 annually ~ 27% of the SW’s emissions
5. The British development partner is Farm Energy, based in North Devon since 1989.