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”.