news release
    4th July 2005

Surfers Float Giant 'X' 12 Miles Off The Coast Of Cornwall To Support Renewable Energy

Climate change solutions need to be agreed the day after tomorrow at G8 Summit.

Surfers from the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have floated a giant green ‘X’ 12 miles off the coast of St Ives in Cornwall to show both their support for renewable energy and to urge world leaders to vote for clean and safe energy options the day after tomorrow when the G8 summit starts in Edinburgh and where climate change is high on the agenda. Watch the campaign action at www.av3.co.uk/saswavehub.htm

The floating ‘X’, was paddled out by SAS surfers, to a wave buoy marker 12 miles out into St Ives Bay. The buoy is currently collecting wave data as part of the wave hub project but also marks the site for wave energy devices to be deployed. The Wave Hub project is seeking to encourage the development of wave energy technology in the South West with the electricity being produced exported to the shore and into the National Grid via a buried cable.

SAS are keen supporters of renewable energy. In particular we are keen to see the marine renewable energy sector develop as we believe this to be an excellent natural platform to help the UK generate clean, green and safe electricity without pollution and depletion of the Earth’s natural resources.

The Wave Hub is still subject to gaining the necessary approvals and funding before construction could begin in the summer of 2006. SAS hopes world leaders in Edinburgh will both acknowledge and press for immediate solutions to tackle climate change so that more projects like the Wave Hub can be undertaken.

As everyday wave users SAS are fully aware of the huge natural wave energy resources we have in the UK and just as we enjoy their energy for recreation we believe that energy should also be captured to create electricity. We are also very aware of the impacts pollution is having on our water environment from current ‘dirty energy’ technologies. In particular the finding of radioactive particles at 2 surfing beaches close to the Dounreay Nuclear Reprocessing Plant in North Scotland has reiterated the importance of developing cleaner and SAFER energy technologies as a matter of urgency.

Richard Hardy, SAS Campaigns Director says: “Surfers are keen to see marine renewable technologies progress quickly so they can play their part in curbing climate change. The Wave Hub project is one such project that deserves full support but it needs a radical agreement on climate change from world leaders this week to really make the difference the Earth needs”.

From the start of 2005 SAS have been in partnership with renewable energy provider Ecotricity. For every customer that changes over to Ecotricity (it won’t cost you a penny more as they match the price of your regional electricity supplier!) mentioning SAS, Ecotricity will donate £15 to the SAS clean and safe water campaign.
Sign up with Ecotricity here!

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