EcoFair360 Celebrates the Greener Life at the Walworth County Fairgrounds July 16-18, 2010

The Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, WI will host a three-day festival and exhibition featuring all things green beginning Friday, July 16, 2010, and running through Sunday, July 18. The festival, which is expected to bring together hundreds of exhibitors and presenters, as well as thousands of attendees looking to learn more about green energy, sustainable building, wise use practices and the green lifestyle, is being presented by the Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center.

Delavan, WI, January 16, 2010 – The Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, WI will host a three-day festival and exhibition featuring all things green beginning Friday, July 16, 2010, and running through Sunday, July 18. The festival, which is expected to bring together hundreds of exhibitors and presenters, as well as thousands of attendees looking to learn more about green energy, sustainable building, wise use practices and the green lifestyle, is being presented by the Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center. The Eco-Vision SLC is a startup nonprofit organization, located in nearby Delavan, that is dedicated to raising green awareness and encouraging green entrepreneurship in the Midwest.

The Fair is currently accepting requests from exhibitors, proposals from speakers and workshop leaders, and sponsorship requests at its Web site, www.ecofair360.com. Interested parties can submit their requests and proposals directly online.

EcoFair360 will make use of four buildings in the Walworth County Fairgrounds, as well as the Grandstand area and much of the open space. Exhibitors are being solicited from throughout the Midwest and the country, and there are plans for tents featuring presentations and workshops in green energy including solar, wind, biomass and geothermal, green education, sustainable building and sustainable living, civic planning, and organic gardening. The Eco-Visions SLC will be looking to find local vendors and suppliers for food and entertainment.

“Walworth County has great potential to become a player in the emerging green industries,” says event coordinator Catherine McQueen. “EcoFair360 will help bring this area to more peoples’ attention. And the green lifestyle is a great fit with the local communities. We want to bring the people with the knowledge and the experience together with the people who are just getting started.”

McQueen and her husband, Fritz Kreiss, are also finalizing plans for the Midwest’s first all-green purpose built bed and breakfast, The Green Leaf Inn, in nearby Delavan. The Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center will be housed on the grounds of the Inn. “The opportunity is here,” says Kreiss. “The key is education and encouragement. We want EcoFair360 to be an event that will educate and inspire. We also want it to be fun. A ‘bring the family’ kind of event.”

People interested in attending the event can create accounts on the www.ecofair360.com Web site to keep up with the latest developments.

The Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable living through education and demonstration. Our goals are to promote and develop scalable solutions for renewable energy and sustainable development, support renewable energy projects though the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), and, as a community, find new ways and build new models to make renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable living an integral part of American life.

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“WE CAN BUILD NEW UK INDUSTRY FROM OFFSHORE WIND REVOLUTION” SAYS BWEA

• ‘Round Three’ of offshore wind farm allocations to increase world market by 20 times
• Announcement by The Crown Estate welcomed, but Government action needed to win manufacturing base for UK
• Up to 45,000 UK based jobs could be created in new coastal manufacturing hubs by 2020
• Grid upgrades must be approved to avoid delays in the build-out of new offshore wind farms

BWEA, the trade body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries, today welcomed The Prime Minister’s announcement of the next generation of offshore wind farms. The industry body called on the Government to ensure that UK manufacturing benefits through support for skills and training, the identification of coastal manufacturing hubs and upgrades to the UK’s electricity grid.

The announcement of nine vast new offshore wind farm zones with a total capacity of 32GW would, if fully developed, be enough to power every home in the UK. With between 5,000-6,000 turbines installed Round 3 would result in carbon savings of between 40 – 80 million tonnes annually.

Maria McCaffery MBE, BWEA Chief Executive said that the announcement is a major leap forward in realising the potential for clean, green energy production through wind power: it sets the UK apart as the leading offshore wind energy producer not only in Europe but worldwide both in terms of total potential power generation from offshore, and the scale of new, green-collar employment opportunity.

Despite the UK’s lead in offshore wind energy generation the UK currently trails behind other leading wind energy producing countries – particularly Germany, Denmark and Spain – in manufacturing, design and supply chain jobs. Key to securing thousands of new skilled green-collar jobs is attracting new investment in offshore wind technology manufacturing to the UK.

Offshore wind currently represents only 1% of the worldwide wind market, which has annual turbine sales of $60bn. This new development signals an enormous step change in global demand for offshore wind, which will stimulate large scale new manufacturing investment. To attract that inward investment into Britain BWEA argues that the Government needs to lead on upgrades to UK ports to provide state-of-the-art quayside facilities and create coastal manufacturing and research hubs for manufacturers (similar to the way in which coastal hubs were created for the offshore oil and gas industry in Aberdeen and the German offshore wind industry in Bremerhaven). With new turbine assembly plants in UK ports, domestic manufacturers would be able to enter the component supply market for gearboxes, bearings and castings.

In 2008, a BWEA-commissioned report from Bain & Co revealed that if 20GW of offshore wind were developed in UK waters by 2020 and two-thirds of the manufacturing took place in the UK it would mean the creation of 45,000 UK based jobs in manufacturing, operations and maintenance.

Over the next decade a full third of the UK’s existing power stations will be permanently decommissioned as ageing nuclear facilities and polluting coal and oil stations are taken off line. With the new generation of nuclear unlikely to be ready before 2020 and clean coal technology still commercially unviable. The decommissioned stock will mainly be replaced by a combination of gas powered and renewables generation.

A recent Ofgem report showed that replacing this stock will be expensive, filling the energy gap with a new generation of gas powered stations is likely to increase customer bills by as much as 60%, while the alternative of large scale wind expansion would keep household bills increases to 22%. Upfront construction costs for wind are significant in comparison to conventional plants like gas: however running costs are lower as wind is free and there are no associated fuel or transport costs.

In addition, upgrades to the UK’s electricity grid will be required. Currently large sections of the UK grid require replacement as this infrastructure is coming to the end of its natural life; up to 60% will have to be upgraded or entirely replaced in the next 5-10 years. Government commitments are needed to ensure that upgrades and extensions are built to carry the renewable energy power produced in windy and offshore areas to customers through the UK.

McCaffery added that we need to ensure the UK also benefits through a boost in manufacturing, engineering and skills: but this will only happen if additional action is taken by the Government through working actively to create coastal manufacturing hubs. This will encourage wind energy manufacturing companies to locate in the UK and enable British businesses to take full advantage of the supply chain opportunities, for the benefit of jobs and the UK economy as well as Britain’s energy security.

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How To Go Green in 48 Hours or Less

Author: Gary W Mason

Most of us want to do the right thing when it comes to the environment, but with so much conflicting information we are all left a little confused and overwhelmed as to what to do about choosing to be green.

Going green does not require a lot of sacrifice nor does it have to hurt you in the pocket. There are simple inexpensive things you can do within 48 hours that will make a huge positive impact on the earth.

Going Green is not just for the rich it’s for everybody. We can all find ways to reuse instead of throwing away, travel in a greener way like using public transport and meal planning to stop wasting so much food.

I will be addressing simple tips and ideas that will help everyone live a greener lifestyle.

Starting with Recycling is such an easy way to begin living a green lifestyle. If you do not live in an area that provides recycled waste collection separate your glass, paper and plastic and drop them off are your nearest recycling centre. If you are not sure of the process or where your recycling centre is contact the local council for more information.

Recycling alone will mean huge improvements to our environment. The more stuff you recycle; the less stuff ends up in the landfill. With a little thought there are many items around your home that can be reused such as old food jars which can be refilled with homemade Jams and chutneys, containers to store food in the fridge and egg boxes and magazines can be taken to kindergarten for art projects, so be creative.

Energy saving is probably the most expensive part of living greener. To save energy, start by changing the light bulbs in your house to the more energy efficient bulbs now available everywhere. You can also buy energy efficient appliances. This may initially be a bit more expensive but in the long run it will help to greatly reduce your energy bills.

Mobile phone and all the other chargers you use around the home use up a lot of power even when nothing is attached to them, so always remember to switch off and unplug them from the wall. Please remember to switch off your T.Vs, VCRs, computers and stereos when not in use. Do not leave them in standby mode as this also uses a lot of power.

A simple way to conserve energy is to use the gift of self and walk instead of using the car when going short distance, you could also get a bike and ride.

To save and use less water you can start with turning off the water when brushing your teeth. When doing laundry, only run full loads and when taking showers make them a minute or two shorter. Collecting rain water is a great way to conserve water if you have the opportunity.

Rain water contains the essential nutrients that plants need unlike our water systems that are cleaned and purified with chemicals, so using rain water to water the garden and indoor plants is beneficial for healthy plants.

When you next go shopping take along with you eco friendly recyclable bags as this will help stop the problem of millions of plastic bags spilling into the ocean killing our marine life.

I have covered only a few things that you can do to help create a better environment.

There are way to many tips and ideas to mention in just one article but please try out some of the tips I have provided and start now on the path of energy conservation.

To create a better future for generations we all need to do our part to make this world a better place.

About the Author:

http://www.howtogogreentips.com Gary W mason will give you many incredible, detailed ideas of how to live a green lifestyle. If you are interested in learning how to live greener, check out the amazing, simple to understand guide from

Obscene bonuses show need for fundamental reform of banking sector

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Responding to the recent announcement that JP Morgan Chase paid out $26.9 billion in pay, bonuses and benefits last year, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “These obscene bonuses paid so soon after the world's taxpayers had to rescue the banking system show that there is something fundamentally wrong in the relationship between banking and the rest of the economy.

“Banks are meant to support society, but instead taxpayers' support guarantees that whatever happens to the economy banks will continue to pay gigantic bonuses.

“The best way to reintegrate banks into society is to make sure they pay a proper contribution through a transaction tax – a solution rapidly gaining support both here and abroad.”

I do not think that much can be added to what Brendan Barber has said above. The banking system needs a serious overhaul and, maybe, just maybe, we should consider a different way for banking.

We must, first of all, return to proper retail banking and return, ideally, to mutual societies of one form or the other in this field.

The international trade with dubious financial mechanisms that not even the like of Ben Bernanke understand, and that came from his very own mouth, must be stopped. They do not benefit anyone bar the banks who get filthy rich and too huge to fail, leaving the ordinary people with the bill of bailing them out.

We cannot continue down this road as, in the end, it will destroy the entire system.

© 2010

Better waste management could be 'secret weapon' against climate change

This is what delegates at major environmental event were told

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Delegates at a major environmental event in Northern Ireland have been told that better resource efficiency could be a 'secret weapon' in the fight against climate change.

It would appear that we are looking here, yet again, at another reinvention of the wheel. It is hardly rocket science that better waste management, resource management, and waste reduction will go along way to reduce environmental damage.

Speaking at WRAP Northern Ireland's first annual meeting recently, the organization's chief executive Liz Goodwin pointed to new research commissioned by WRAP that shows that making better use of our natural resources could contribute as much as 10% of the target reduction in UK domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

The research indicates that resource efficiency could prove to be a 'secret weapon' against climate change as it allows immediate action to meet pressing and challenging targets. From an economic perspective, resource efficiency can also offer £6.4 billion savings a year to UK businesses.

Liz Goodwin said: "WRAP's research shows the significant impact that resource efficiency could have on the environment and the economy. Today we have highlighted the important role that businesses in Northern Ireland have in contributing to combating climate change, through making better use of natural resources.

"For example, last year construction projects worth more £4 billion included requirements to cut waste going to landfill.

"Of the Northern Ireland signatories that WRAP has worked with so far, they are able to influence £899 million of projects where the commitment can make significant gains in resource efficiency which will impact on the construction supply chain in Northern Ireland.

"This will bring increased diversion from landfill, increased recycling and recovery of materials and provide the potential for economic growth and increased employment."

Environment Minister Edwin Poots also highlighted the opportunities that recycling can offer the Northern Ireland economy.

He said: "The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy recognized that a major obstacle to increasing levels of recycling and resource recovery in Northern Ireland is the lack of local markets for recovered materials, compost and products containing recycled material.

"Establishing sustained demand for these products is the most effective means of stimulating the market. Recycling offers many new business opportunities for the Northern Ireland economy.

"I am a great believer that the environment and the economy do not need to be competitors. They can be partners helping us to build a stronger and better and more sustainable Northern Ireland."

This is not just a case for Northern Ireland but for the entire UK and the rest of the developed world where this is not as yet being implemented.

The minister stated that recycling would offer business opportunities for Ulster (Northern Ireland) and it certainly would, and also for the rest of the British economy, if we but would do the recycling in this country.

Alas, we do not do that. We just have the recyclables collected, sorted and then shipped to China where they may, or may not, as the case may be, actually get reprocessed into new products.

The reason I am saying “may, or may not” is the fact that much of the stuff we are sending abroad is not being recycled but just shoved into landfill sites in those countries it is being sent to.

While we have some companies that recycle waste in this country, such as glass into counter tops, paving and even bricks, and also some that recycle plastic bottles and other plastic into new products, the truth is that most of the material collected goes abroad.

We have, for instance, over ten million metric tons of building lumber go into landfill in Britain every year and I am sure an entire industry could be created alone around that to recycle that wood into something.

Keep recycling in this country and don't outsource it. That is the way to create some real green jobs at home.

© 2010

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Guide to Greener Electronics, 14th Edition, out now

Greenpeace's Electronics Guide cuts through the greenwash

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Apple, Sony Ericsson and Nokia products free of worst hazardous substances - Samsung, Dell, Lenovo and LGE disappoint, ASUS not even listed.

In Greenpeace's latest Guide to Greener Electronics, Nokia and Sony Ericsson retain top spots on the list while Samsung falls for not meeting a chemical-elimination goal. Greenpeace is now also rating companies based on their support, or silence, on changes to a European Union chemicals law.

Apple, Sony Ericsson and Nokia lead the way for product ranges free of the worst hazardous substances with HP following their lead. Yesterday, HP added to its portfolio of products completely free of PVC vinyl plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), releasing a desktop PC and a notebook series.

Samsung, Dell, Lenovo and LGE pick up penalty points in the Guide for failing to follow through on a promised phase-out of toxic materials in their products.

The majority of the companies in the Guide had pledged to remove toxic PVC and BFRs from their product range by the end of 2009, which would have meant a greater show of greener, toxic-free products for visitors to preview at the CES. But, for now, it's a no show for these companies, who have delayed their phase-out to 2011 or beyond.

Nokia stays in 1st place with a slightly reduced score of 7.3, losing a point for failing to do proactive lobbying for the revised RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronics) Directive to adopt a methodology for further restrictions of hazardous substances, and immediately ban chlorinated and brominated substances. As of this version of the Guide, Criterion C1 has been sharpened to require companies not only to have a chemicals policy underpinned by the precautionary principle, but also to support a revision of the RoHS Directive that bans further harmful substances, specifically brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs) and PVC vinyl plastic.

The company, often claiming to be so very green, with Bamboo-covered laptops, ASUS, is entirely absent in the ratings and one can but wonder what score that company has in this Greenpeace rating. Other companies too are missing, though ACER, on the other hand, is present, though not at the top.

By way of explanation PVC contaminates humans and the environment throughout its lifecycle; during its production, use, and disposal it is the single most environmentally damaging of all plastics, and can form dioxin, a known carcinogen, when burned. Some BFRs are highly resistant to degradation in the environment and are able to bio-accumulate (build up in animals and humans).

With the growth of electronic waste, workers who deal with e-waste and the wider community are at significant health risks. Burning of e-waste to recover valuable resources, as routinely takes place in the backyards of China, India and much of the South, can form dioxins. Eliminating the substances will decrease exposure and increase the recyclability and reusability of electronic products.

Eliminating sending our E-waste to China and other such countries would do away with the problem of such wild recycling practices in the first place.

We are using the likes of China, India, countries in Africa, etc. as dumping grounds for our waste to be recycled or, at times, not recycled and just dumped.

Those practiced need to be stopped and that now. Recycling and reclamation of materials out of the stuff that we dump should be done in our backyards, so to speak, and not the backyards of other countries. Then and only then will the manufacturers phase out the toxic substances; when they can no longer, because of what they contain, sell them in the developed world.

The report can be downloaded here in PDF at a size of 3MB.

© 2010

Kent's controversial Chief Constable set to become Chief Inspector of CPS

This is all your country needs!

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Chief Constable of the Kent Police, Michael Fuller, the first black chief constable, who has allowed, nay basically ordered, his officers to act unlawfully against peaceful environmental protesters is set to being offered, so it would appear, the job of next head of the Crown Prosecution Service.

This is the very chief constable who is facing questions over climate protest and it is amazing that if someone screws up gloriously in the position of a county's chief cop he gets offered the job of running the country's highest prosecution service. Like always in the civil service. Good G-d!

The Kent Constabulary, nowadays Kent Police, has always been somewhat of a rogue police force in this country, breaking the people left, right and center, and unwarranted searches of Gypsy Sites and Gypsy homes being just one of those manifestations.

So far any Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police who has come to the force having previously been the Chief Constable of the Kent Police has been “tainted” with this attitude.

When the freedom of peaceful protesters get trampled under foot as in Kent at the Kingsnorth Power Station, the G20 protest in 2008 and then now recently at the COP15 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the same attitude was seen by police officers who seem to have taken tuition from cops from over here, then people must ask as to whether that is going to be the new European way of policing, all over the European Union, and Kent and other parts of the UK being a stalking horse and training ground.

It has become obvious that the Kent Police has stepped well out of line with policing the protest against the coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth and also by giving the security personnel of the power company police powers, basically, and the current Chief Constable of the Kent Police should be held accountable for those actions. The officers, after all, are acting on his orders. Instead, it would appear that he is going to be rewarded with the top job of the Crown Prosecution Service. How ironic!

© 2010

Envirosax®, first time exhibitors at Top Drawer, has launched a trio of new products plus range extensions

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

London, UK, January 2010 – For the first time this year Envirosax®, the fashionable eco-tote company, has been showcasing at Top Drawer.

This premiere has been bigger than ever as Envirosax kicks off 2010 with enormous pizzazz by launching a trio of new products at Top Drawer.

The company, which has pioneered the designer reusable bag, has also added three fabulous new designs to their existing collections.

The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW has reviewed the Envirosax® reusable shopper in February 2009 here and a much greater range is available now.

The newest addition to the brand is the ‘greenest’ yet – called Slingsax and made from 45% recycled materials in a messenger-bag shape. Retaining the sassy style for which Envirosax is known, Slingsax come in three appealing designs, great for both men and women. As Spring arrives the pretty, floral bag mixed with olive green and classic white dots will delight the young at heart whereas the multicoloured striped bag mixed with classic black will appeal to men or those who prefer a more subtle tone. The new Slingsax will be priced at £9.50 (RRP).

The Slingsax, I must say, looks great and let us hope we will be able to bring you a review of it here in the not so distant future.

At Top Drawer Envirosax® also introduced the new Minisax, which is also 45% rPET (Recycled PET) and is available in three designs taken from the Slingsax range.

The new Minisax are half the size of the original bags, making them the ideal size to fit a water bottle and lunch, to take to work or school for the eco-conscious family. Minisax will have an RRP of £3.00.

Completing the trio, with the official UK launch is Envirosax Aqua – the designer reusable bottle, in perfect time for the onset of the warmer months so you can bag up a bottle and enjoy the great outdoors or use these for the office or the gym. Envirosax Aqua bottles are lightweight, made from stainless steel and feature a sports cap closure.

And if this trio wasn’t enough, there are a further three new gorgeous bag series from the original Envirosax eco-tote to reveal:

the Oasis series with a variety of lively, homely floral prints mixed with traditional deckchair stripes and dots, in vibrant turquoise and navy tones;

the Midnight Safari collection, a fresh reinvention of the timeless black and white designs of the monochromatic range; and

the Origami range, a collection of vibrant spring colours and prints, these delectable totes are not just great for the everyday but also superb as holiday beach bags.

Envirosax eco-totes are sassy, sustainable, durable yet compact. They look good and you want to take them along openly and not hide them.

© 2010

BUSINESSES LINE UP FOR SUSTAINABILITY MASTERCLASS

March 16/17 2010 sees the first major UK event about sustainable business management. base (Business and a Sustainable Environment) expects 2,000 senior businesses and public sector management to participate in a two-day master class in ExCel about the business opportunities in being sustainable.

'base will be a 'must go to' for everyone who has to make or influence decisions in public or private sectors, across every management discipline' said Tom Burke CBE, chairman of base.

Leading politicians, business people and NGO heads are to speak including Climate Change Secretary of State, Ed Milliband, and Defra Secretary of State, Hilary Benn as well as Vince Cable from the Lib Dems and Tory Climate Change and Energy Shadow Minister Greg Barker. From business are John Lewis chairman, Charlie Mayfield, KPMG London chairman Richard Reid, Sainsbury's chief Justin King, and Philip Green, chief executive of United Utilities.

These will be joined by distinguished sustainability experts including Will Day, Sustainable Development Commission chair, David Nussbaum, CEO, WWF-UK and Jonathon Porritt.

base aims to give business and public sector organisations the clear answers, digestible information, contacts and resources to enable change. It will do this through 30 pithy conference sessions chaired by leading thinkers and drawing on the expertise of over 100 speakers. Subjects include transport, logistics, communications, resource efficiency, buildings, energy, technology, marketing and sales.

base has a luminous list of founding partners who have been involved in creating what is planned to be the most engaging and results orientated event of its kind. It includes Sainsbury's, Qatar Airways, WSP, Lloyds TSB, Fiat, British Gas, Marsh, Linklaters, the CBI, The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, The Carbon Trust, Forum for the Future, The Prince's May Day Network, The Climate Group, and The British Chambers of Commerce.

March 17 will include baseLearning, which will bring together business and educators, with keynotes by Sir Mike Tomlinson and the arctic explorer, Pen Hadow. It will look at the skill set needed and careers offered by a low carbon economy, focusing on education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

base is a major, pioneering event about how to do business in the 21st Century sustainably. base will provide solutions for those aspiring to run their businesses more efficiently. It includes 12 keynote sessions, 30 conference modules and 50 roundtable networking sessions.

base (business and a sustainable environment) takes place on March 16-17 2010 at the London ExCeL. For further information see www.baseshow.co.uk

baseLearning, which is attached to the event, is about education and skills in a low-carbon economy. Its focus is on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and the career options that these open for young people, via vocational, technical and academic routes to employment.

BaseLearning takes place on March 17, 2010 at the London ExCel. For further information see www.baseshow.co.uk/learning

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UK wind industry welcomes Beauly-Denny power line decision

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The UK wind industry trade body has welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to approve the Beauly-Denny power line as a vitally important step forward in delivering the UK ’s 2020 renewable target.

Britain is committed to generated 15% of its electricity from renewables by the end of this decade. As the renewable contribution from heat and fuel are so low that up to half of this will have to come from electricity alone. Three-quarters of this green electricity capacity, some 34GW, is expected to come from wind (broadly 2/3 offshore and 1/3 onshore) with hydro, wave & tidal and solar contributing up to another 10GW.

BWEA Head of Grid Guy Nicholson said: “This is great news for the UK wind industry, it’s the first step in building a 21st century grid system capable of connecting decentralised green energy throughout the UK ”.

Much of the existing electricity grid is old and at the end of its life, it services the wrong areas of the country leaving the windiest regions such as the North of Scotland with few grid connections. The new Beauly-Denny upgrade will replace the existing 132kV line, with a 400kV line. The 132kV transmission network in Scotland was built to connect new hydro generation after the Second World War and now needs to be upgraded to accommodate renewable energy generation.

The upgrade will provide immediate access for 1500 MW of onshore projects that are already in the advanced stages of planning and the first step of 2300 MW in delivery of 8,000MW of wind power as other grid reinforcements in the north of Scotland follow on. To deliver the 2020 targets other grid reinforcements are planned in other parts of Britain.

By providing access to the excellent renewable energy sources in the North of Scotland and subsequently on the Scottish Islands , the project will help deliver lower cost renewable energy.

Whilst it is important to consider the necessity and environmental impacts of any new electricity transmission line, the process of permitting the Beauly Denny line has been unnecessarily long, as it was first proposed in 2001.

The delay to the line has and will result in delays to renewable energy projects, reduced output from projects during the build and limits realizable reductions in UK emissions.

Beauly Denny also lays the foundations for the development of at least 1420MW of offshore wind, an additional 540MW of onshore wind and 750MW of wave and tidal and will stimulate further project development across the industry.

Nicholson added: “Whilst more grid upgrades will be required to achieve the UK’s carbon reduction targets, this important mile stone provides the green light for the development of a decentralized grid network, and allows the UK to continue to develop its world leading offshore wind, wave and tidal energy industries.”

The amazing thing, as so often when it comes to renewable energy, many environmental groups are opposed to the Beauly-Denny power line. In the same way as they have a big trap about needing wind power and other renewables but when it comes to wind farms going up then they object, together with the NIMBYs who get their funding from vested interest groups without admitting this.

We need renewable energy and the transmission lines that carry that power and we cannot simply object for the sake of doing so.

Nature is a lovely thing and “unspoilt” would be nice but if we do not get down to running our economy of renewable energy – and for that turbines and power lines are needed – we will have no nature left as we will have no livable Planet left. So, what is it to be? Think!

© 2010

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