Multi-million benefits for the local economy, reduced reliance on fossil and nuclear fuels, less pollution. . . the list goes on and on. The benefits of wind power add up to an increasingly persuasive case - so persuasive that this form of renewable energy is now well on the way to playing a small but significant role in the nation's power generating future. Experts make no secret of the fact that the environmental problems are complex and far-reaching and by the same token there are no cheap, quick-fix solutions. But the problems can - and will - be overcome, creating a wealth of opportunity for businesses in the West Midlands with the right specialist technologies and expertise. To get a clearer idea of the potential gains, you can look beyond the border of the West Midlands into North Wales. It's here that Gerry Jewson has been instrumental in bringing to fruition the largest ever wind turbine scheme in the UK. The story of how the multi-million Cefn Croes scheme evolved from blueprint to reality - a process that took several years to get planning permission and demonstrates how local chartered surveyors have persevered against great odds - was shared with RICS members in the West Midlands last month. Initially, there was some local opposition to the scheme, centred on the visual impact of the development and questions over whether the decision for the scheme to go ahead should have been made by the Energy Minister. Calls for a public enquiry were dismissed by the High Court and other aesthetic issues were resolved through careful design and close public consultation. Generally the scheme received widespread support, not just from environmental groups but also from local people. "The benefits for local communities are clear," explains Mr Jewson, who worked for Shropshire County Council before moving to the private sector. "Cefn Croes wind farm is a £40 million project which will bring £14 million to the local economy - many of the goods and services required for the scheme, including the turbine towers, will be provided by local companies. "The scheme itself will contribute one per cent of Welsh electricity needs, providing six permanent jobs and as many as 60 temporary jobs during the project's construction phase." According to Dave King, environmental technologies cluster development manager for Advantage West Midlands, highlights the fact that this market has be stimulated by the government's recent White Paper on energy. "The increasing focus on the use of wind turbines presents huge scope for companies in the components supply chain," says Mr King. Even before that document was published, the renewable energy sector had been identified as a key strategic target for EnviroTRADE WM. Regarding the success of future projects, Mr Jewson welcomed the Government's latest proposals for increasing the number of wind farms in the UK but agreed with RICS members in Shropshire that reaching the 2010 targets for renewable energy would be a challenge. "The plans outlined in the Energy White Paper are certainly good news and they clearly illustrate the Government's commitment to renewable energy," he told Gordon Wood, regional environmental spokesman for the RICS West Midlands, and colleagues. "Not least, the changes in planning legislation will have a significant impact - difficulties with gaining planning permission for projects like the one at Cefn Croes, are currently the biggest barrier to achieving long-term environmental aims. The possibility of using spatial planning methods to identify suitable sites for development is certainly a step in the right direction." With much of the recent press coverage concentrating on the cost of stopping global warming, experts like Mr Jewson are keen to balance the issue of bigger gas and electricity bills, with the long-term benefits to our environment. "The cost of electricity has fallen to an unsustainable level in recent years, which is the result of changes in electricity trading arrangements," said Mr Jewson, who set up Mold-based West Coast Energy in 1995. "We understand the concerns that consumers have over increased household energy bills but we each have a responsibility to ourselves and to future generations - taking an holistic view of energy costs is vital if we are serious about preserving our environment for years to come." One major challenge to government proposals has been its position on nuclear energy. Mr Jewson agrees that stopping the building of nuclear power stations is a good idea in principal but questions whether or not it is workable given the targets to reduce CO2 emissions over the next ten years. "By 2015, all our nuclear plants will be coming off production and they currently account for up to 25 per cent of the UK's electricity generation. We are also going to be importing oil and gas from countries which are far less politically stable today than they were ten years ago," he said. "If we're not careful we will end up with a lack of generation capacity in the UK, demand outstripping supply and the risk of more frequent power cuts. "The environmental problems that we face today are complex and far reaching and by the same token there are no cheap, quick-fix solutions. "But as demonstrated by the wind farm scheme at Cefn Croes, a well-designed project and a persistent approach will eventually be successful, whatever the odds are against it." | 
