Nov 09 - Daily Post; Liverpool

Developers behind plans to build up to 250 wind turbines off the North Wales coast yesterday told AMs the project would boost the region's economy and create jobs.

Energy company npower renewables expects a government decision next year on the Gwynt y Mor scheme.

Supporters say it could generate up to 750MW of electricity - enough to power half a million homes.

But opponents want a public inquiry insisting it would visually blight the horizon off the tourist coast of Llandudno.

Npower's head of hydro and offshore development, Alastair Gill, told a meeting at the Senedd building in Cardiff the Gwynt y Mor project would stimulate jobs in the renewable energy industry.

At least 80 technicians would be needed to maintain the turbines, plus administrative support, while port facilities would also be required to service the development, if it goes ahead before the end of the decade.

Talks were continuing with statutory agencies - including the Countryside Council for Wales - over ways to reduce the visual impact on the coastline.

The safety of shipping and aircraft affected by the scheme and the impact on the habitat were also under consideration, he said.

The largest offshore scheme proposed for Wales dwarfs previous wind generation projects such as the North Hoyle scheme which has been operating four miles off Rhyl and Prestatyn for two years with just 30 turbines.

A second project five miles off shore at Rhyl Flats is due to be built next year with a further 30 turbines.

Vale of Clwyd Labour AM Ann Jones, who hosted the npower presentation, said: "I know the benefits wind power can bring to my area."

Clwyd West Labour AM Alun Pugh said the main issues raised by constituents concerned the visual impact of the proposals.

The Welsh Assembly Government set a target of 1,500MW (15%) of renewable power by 2010 and 2,500MW (20%) by 2020.

Chair of the Save our Scenery campaign, John Lawson-Reay, argued the construction of the Rhyl Flats scheme would increase opposition when locals see the visual impact of the turbines.

The group raised a 5,000 signature petition urging the Department of Trade and Industry to refuse the Gwynt y Mor bid.

A campaign leaflet produced by SoS featuring a mock-up photograph of wind turbines clustered along a coastline was declared misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority.

The ruling said: "The proposed wind farm on the horizon was not an accurate representation of what the wind farm would look like when built."

But Mr Lawson-Reay insisted that the group would argue the accuracy of their claims in any subsequent public inquiry.

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