Green Party welcomes new major offshore wind farm for East Anglia

The Greens in Eastern Region are welcoming the latest consent for a major wind farm in the North Sea off the Suffolk coast. With other consents awarded in the last few years the East Anglian offshore wind industry is fast developing into a significant asset in the fight aginst dangerous climate change and in providing the UK with clean green energy for the future. The Greater Gabbard wind farm is expected to displace 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per annum, powering 415,000 homes.

The installation received planning permission to be located 25km off the coast of Suffolk in the Outer Thames Estuary. The wind farm will produce 500MW of electricity via 140 wind turbines sited around the Inner Gabbard and The Galloper sandbanks. It will be the first UK offshore wind farm to be built outside territorial waters.

Cllr. Rupert Read, Eastern Region Green Party spokesperson, commented,

"Cleaner green electricity is what we all want, in order to safeguard our energy supply and prevent climate catastrophe. The Green Party therefore welcomes this forward-looking decision to grant planning permission to Greater Gabbard wind farm. East Anglia could eventually become self-sufficient in energy, if greater investment in renewable energy sources such as this is combined with improved energy efficiency measures and a reduction in electricity usage wherever feasible."