RESIDENTS will have the chance to voice their views on a proposed £70 million tidal farm off the Anglesey coast.
Marine Current Turbines development manager Joseph Kidd invited residents to examine plans for the 10MW Skerries Tidal Stream Array at Holyhead Town Hall today (Monday, August 23) and tomorrow (Tuesday, August 24).
He added: “The scheme will not only generate clean energy but also give local firms the chance to be involved in the tidal farm’s installation and operation.”
The farm will include nine turbines Skerries and Carmel Head off the north east coast of Anglesey.
It would produce enough electricity to power 10,000 homes. This amounts to around 20 per cent of the island’s electricity demands.
MCT and partners RWE Npower will apply for planning permission in September.
The companies have consulted organisations including Isle of Anglesey Council, the Countryside Council for Wales, RSPB and Maritime & Coastguard.
They have also conducted environmental studies on the impact of the farm on the Skerries site for the last three years.
It is estimated that MCT’s Strangford Lough wind farm off Northern Ireland has provided than £4 million to the economy since 2008.
Commissioning for the farm is scheduled to start between 2013 and 2014.
Anglesey MP Albert Owen lent the scheme his support.
“I welcome all forms of renewable energy and hope that people will take this opportunity to look at this technology and the future that Anglesey has in tidal power,” he said.
The exhibition will be open today from 2am-8pm on Monday, August 23 and 9am-2pm tomorrow.