Eco-building that represents a significant proportion of the firm’s £3m+ investment in the local community over the past three years.
Welsh Assembly Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, John Griffiths, visited the leading independent renewable energy group in Mold, Flintshire, today [17 November] to officially open their award-winning eco-building that represents a significant proportion of the firm’s £3m+ investment in the local community over the past three years, and to help the 194 staff and their guests celebrate their first 15 years of success.
West Coast Group of Companies founders Paula and Gerry Jewson welcomed the opportunity to show such a key Welsh Assembly member around the inspirational building and to brief him on their views on the options for wind energy in Wales, its potential as an employer and economic booster and the barriers to its development.
John Griffiths said, “The Welsh Government is committed to putting sustainability at the heart of everything it does. That means making decisions that promote the long term, sustainable wellbeing of people and communities in Wales.”
“As a Government, we are urging businesses and organisations across Wales to think and operate much more sustainably and I am very encouraged by the ongoing efforts of the West Coast Group of Companies to help businesses put sustainability principles right at the centre of their operations.”
West Coast Energy, a leading onshore wind developer and part of the group, has been vocal in calling for clarity on planning issues in Wales, Scotland and England, as we go through a period of unprecedented volumes of policy and legislative change, yet TAN8 and UK targets continue to loom.
“We have the skills and the will to make a significant home-grown contribution to the development of renewable energy in partnership with the government of Wales, if only the opportunities can be opened up to independent developers like us.” said Gerry Jewson.
“We have also developed unrivalled expertise in working with communities and planners to share the benefits of development fairly in projects across Scotland, and have some exciting ideas to bring to development in Wales.” he added.
About West Coast Energy:
West Coast Energy Limited is a leading independent wind energy developer based in Mold, North Wales. The company was established in 1996 and operates throughout the UK. Its team of experienced professionals specialise in the identification, design, planning and development of wind energy projects through to construction and operation.
West Coast Energy is presently involved in developing hundreds of megawatts of wind power generation for the UK’s future renewable energy needs, and to date, has secured planning permission for a range of onshore and offshore wind farms totalling in excess of 600 Megawatts.
The West Coast Group of Companies also incorporates Atmos Consulting Limited, an environmental and technical consulting firm specialising in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure and biodiversity projects; West Coast Network Services Limited, which provides specialist power line vegetation management and maintenance services to a number of electricity distribution companies and The Low Carbon Energy Company which designs and installs a range of microgeneration technologies, including solar PV.