Energy firms fear impact of bird lobby

Mar 26 - Planning

Renewable energy companies have warned that the UK's budding offshore wind industry could be nipped in the bud if ministers heed conservationists' pleas over the siting of turbines.

In a speech to last week's British Wind Energy Association offshore conference, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) director of conservation Mark Avery called for "clearer strategic guidance" to protect bird habitats from wind farm development.

Conservationists claim that thousands of birds die every year after getting caught in turbine blades. "The RSPB supports increased renewable energy generation as part of a balanced approach towards tackling climate change, which we see as the greatest threat to the world's wildlife," said Avery. "But we will object to any wind farm schemes that threaten important populations of birds and their habitats."

The RSPB claims that all of the sites licensed for the second round of offshore wind farms are in areas identified by English Nature as potentially internationally important for birds.

A British Wind Energy Association spokeswoman said that climate change poses the greatest threat to birds in this country. "Developers will not take projects forward if they have no assurance that they are going to get permission,"she warned.

Copyright Haymarket Business Publications Ltd. Mar 12, 2004