Plans for Wear Point Wind Farm approved

A decision to give the green light to a wind farm development near Milford Haven will add enough green power to the grid to supply just over 5,500 households each year, the equivalent of 11% of homes in Pembrokeshire, says the developer behind the scheme.

Renewable energy developers Infinergy have welcomed today’s decision by Pembrokeshire County Councillors to follow their officer’s recommendation and approve the planning application for a four turbine wind farm, known as Wear Point Wind Farm, after the nearest beach. The project will be built adjacent to the UK’s largest tank storage facility to the west of Llanstadwell.

Infinergy’s Project Director Lorraine Dallmeier said that the brownfield site was an ideal location, with excellent average wind speeds and compliant with relevant planning policies which was seconded by Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning officer.

“I applaud the decision of the planning committee to approve Wear Point Wind Farm, which will save the emissions of thousands of tonnes of CO2 every year, replacing power otherwise produced by gas or coal fired power stations. I am sure the many local residents who support the proposal will be equally pleased with this decision and I would like to thank them for their support throughout the process. This is a decision that will certainly assist the global battle of tackling accelerated climate change and is something that we should all be proud of.”

The wind farm is located on land owned by the oil storage company SemLogistics. Nigel Passmore, Managing Director, said he was pleased with the result.

“Infinergy has ensured the wind farm will fit in well with our operations. We are looking forward to having a renewable energy project here as we strongly believe that diversifying the energy mix in Milford Haven will ultimately lead to more jobs, more high tech intellectual property and more investment moving into the area.”

Lorraine said that just because the application had been approved, Infinergy’s community liaison will not end there.

“We will update local residents throughout construction and of course when the wind farm becomes operational. Wear Point Wind Farm will be something for us all to be proud of, and indeed celebrate,” she said.

The company will now proceed by arranging finance for the project, discharging the planning conditions associated with the project and further preparations. The aim is to have the turbines fully commissioned by the end of 2012.