There is a strong argument for introducing more renewable energy into the UK. Unfortunately some of these renewable energy projects will damage the local landscape and its wildlife. There is a big push by our government, notably by The Environment Secretary, David Miliband, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling to make Britain the first country to derive most of its energy from the tides. One such project being promoted at the moment is to build a 10 mile barrage across the Severn estuary. This £14 billion project is being pushed a consortium of six companies called the Severn Tidal Power Group. It all sounds good, getting electricity from the tides, no carbon emissions, but…
There will be a devastating and irreversible impact on the estuary wildlife and many environmental groups are quite rightly opposed to the project. So, do we destroy the natural environment and its wildlife? Do we build massive wind farms and tidal generating barrages all over our country at the cost of our countryside and its supported wildlife? Is that really the right thing to do? Surely we should be looking at more ways to individually and as a society reduce our use of energy?
From: BEST OF 2008: Eco-friendy and sustainable shoes