West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, welcomed the announcement today of the creation of a Marine Energy Park across the South West. Much of the activity will concentrate on plans already in place for West Cornwall – the Wave Hub and Falmouth.
The Minister of State in the Department for Energy and Climate Change – Greg Barker MP – will announce the plans at the launch meeting of the South West Marine Energy Park (SWMEP) at the offices of Burges Salmon in Bristol at 10.30 am today, Monday 23rd January 2012.
Mr George had championed the creation of the Wave Hub when MP for Hayle and has led the campaign for parity of funding with Scotland; which met with success last autumn.
Mr George said, “Marine renewables will be an important driver in the future Cornish economy. This announcement is a welcome boost. It is important to have secured an even playing field for wave energy in Cornwall and to put right the financial bias towards marine energy projects in Scotland.
“I have long argued that Cornwall must position itself as the Green Peninsula within the UK – at the cutting edge of innovation and research. This announcement will assist and give the economy the welcome boost it needs and deserves.
“Perhaps, in the next couple of decades, Cornwall could prepare the ground for it to become self-sufficient in renewable energy.”