Paul
Gainey - 2-May-2008 - A state-of-the-art
wind turbine has helped turn an Environment
Agency depot in Cornwall into one of the
greenest government offices in the country.
Standing over 60ft tall,
the new turbine takes pride of place at
the Agency’s Pennygillam depot near Launceston
and is the first to be installed at Agency
premises. It should produce more than 15,000
kilowatts of power a year and reduce the
site’s annual electricity bill by up to
40%.
The eco-friendly depot
already has a rainwater harvesting system
that has made it virtually self-sufficient
in water. It also uses ‘sun pipes’ to illuminate
parts of the depot with natural light. Vehicles
at the site are now running on biofuel as
part of a 12-month trial.
A special ceremony will
take place at next Friday (May 9) at 2.00pm
to mark the official launch of the new turbine.
The Environment Agency’s regional director,
Richard Cresswell, will give a short presentation
before inviting local MP Dan Rogerson to
unveil an interpretation board explaining
how the turbine works.
As well as providing
renewable energy, any surplus power is sold
to the National Grid. Over an estimated
20 year lifetime, the turbine will save
over 129 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
More than half the £50,000
cost of the project has been funded through
the Environment Agency’s Carbon Reduction
Fund which is used to help offset the Agency’s
own carbon footprint and set a good example
to other organisations.
The site at Pennygillam
was identified as the most suitable for
a wind turbine after consultants surveyed
various Agency sites to find out where alternative
energy devices could best be installed.
‘This project is an
excellent example of the Environment Agency
leading the way. We all need to find ways
to reduce our carbon footprint and make
greater use of renewable energy technology.
An added bonus with this scheme is that
we can export electricity to the National
Grid during periods of low demand such as
evenings, weekends and during the summer,’
said Richard Cresswell.
Notes to Editor:
The depot at Pennygillam uses 75,000 kw
of electricity a year. The new turbine will
reduce the site’s annual electricity use
by at least 20% and possibly as much as
40%. CO2 emissions will be cut by at least
6,450 kilos – the equivalent of an average
household in a year.
+ More
Environment Agency Board
discuss future development for South Hampshire
Lucy Harding - 2-May-2008
- With its 360º panoramic views of
Portsmouth Harbour, the South coast and
the Isle of Wight, the Spinnaker Tower is
the ideal location for the Environment Agency
Board to meet and discuss the challenges
of planned growth in South Hampshire.
The Board will discuss
regional issues such as managing water supplies
and flood risk on 6 May 2008, ahead of the
open board meeting on 7 May.
The South East is one
of the UK’s fastest growing regions, with
around 300,000 new homes planned for the
next 20 years. In South Hampshire alone
there are plans to build a further 80,000
properties.
“Climate change will
put our environment under further pressure
in the coming years,” Sir John Harman, Environment
Agency Chairman, said.
“With two years of below
average rainfall in 2005 and 2006, the South
East experienced one of the worst droughts
for 100 years. With future growth in housing
and population, our water resources will
come under even more pressure.
“It is imperative that
any further growth protects our resources.
Metering is crucial to managing future water
supplies and demand, and we need it sooner
rather than later.
“Also, the floods last
summer clearly showed the damage that flooding,
either from rivers or from surface water,
can cause.
“The plans for South
Hampshire present us all with a challenge
to make the right decisions about the location,
design and nature of development so that
both people and the environment are protected,
especially in the face of climate change.
It is critical that those responsible for
development recognise the environmental
pressures and work closely with us to tackle
them,” Sir John Harman said.
The Environment Agency
Board meets for its open meeting on Wednesday,
May 7, 2008, from 10am to 1pm in the Normandy
Suite, Holiday Inn, Pembroke Road, Portsmouth
PO1 2TA. The agenda can be discussed with
Environment Agency Chairman Sir John Harman
and board members during lunch from 1pm
– 1.45pm. The agenda and board papers can
be found at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/board
+ More
Environment Agency hunts
Bank Holiday licence cheats
Michelle Dolphin - 2-May-2008
- The Environment Agency is reminding people
who plan to go fishing this Bank Holiday
weekend in Shropshire, Worcestershire and
Gloucestershire that they need to take a
valid rod licence with them as Environmental
Crime Team officers will be out and about,
seeking anglers fishing without a rod licence.
We will be visiting
locations where our intelligence operations
indicate we are likely to find anglers who
fishing without a rod licence.
Although Environmental
Crime Team officers will be targeting these
areas in particular this weekend, patrols
by Water Bailiffs will take place across
the Midlands, so it is no use going elsewhere.
There is nowhere to hide.
Fishing inland waters
without a rod licence is a criminal offence.
As well as a court appearance and criminal
record, offenders lay themselves open to
a possible fine of up to £2,500.
People who fish without
a licence are cheating their fellow anglers.
We use the money invested in rod licences
by honest anglers who care about their sport
to help to improve the future of angling
for everyone.
We breed fish to re-stock
waters that have suffered from pollution.
We rescue fish that
would otherwise die because of problems
in their water environment.
We check that fish movements
are carried out properly to prevent the
spread of disease.
We provide facilities
for disabled anglers.
We nurture a new generation
of responsible anglers by coaching youngsters
and we make sure there will be fish for
them to catch.
This can be achieved
only through the support of anglers who
buy rod licences.
Team Leader Al Watson
says: “Anglers who try to beat the system
by not buying a rod licence are cheats.
They take unfair advantage of improvements
funded by their honest colleagues without
contributing a penny themselves, and they
reduce the money we can invest in the sport.
“It is illegal
to fish without a rod licence. Our work
to catch illegal anglers is now carefully
targeted based on intelligence. Our message
to rod licence cheats is clear. We have
the technology and we know where to find
you. When we catch you, it could prove the
most expensive and memorable day’s fishing
you’ve ever had. Don’t risk getting caught
this weekend. Buy a rod licence now.”
