The Scarweather Sands offshore windfarm in Swansea Bay today passed one of the last remaining hurdles to provide clean energy to South Wales, in a decision that was applauded by Greenpeace.
Robin Oakley of Greenpeace said: "This decision is brilliant news for the environment and brilliant news for the people of Swansea Bay.
"Swansea Bay residents are overwhelmingly in favour of this project. Over three times as many local people supported this windfarm than opposed it, proving that clean energy provided by wind is exactly what the public want.
"Assembly Members must now listen to the people and get this windfarm built quickly."
The Scarweather Sands project has proved popular among residents of South Wales. In an independent poll carried out by ICM Research and released in November, 54% of respondents said they supported the windfarm proposal, while only 14% said they were opposed. Besides this, almost 9,000 supportive letters and e-postcards were sent to the Welsh Assembly.
The windfarm will also prove to be a boon to the local tourist industry. In a survey carried out last summer, 96% of visitors questioned said they were more likely or just as likely to return to the Swansea Bay resort of Porthcawl if the turbines go up.
Lying three miles off the coast of Porthcawl, the Scarweather Sands windfarm will produce enough electricity to supply 80,000 homes - equivalent to a town the size of Swansea.
Further information
Contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255, or Robin Oakley on 07801 212960.
