10th July 2006

Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has confirmed permission previously granted by Rochdale Borough Council for the temporary erection of an anemometer mast (met mast) by Coronation Power on land at Crook Hill, near Wardle, Lancashire.

Rochdale Borough Council approved Coronation Power's Planning Application for a met mast on 23rd February 2006, but as the area is designated as common land, consent was also required from Defra before erection of the mast could proceed.

The met mast will test wind strength and direction and comprises a 60 metre aluminium tower, fixed to the ground by cables. Its installation will have limited impact on the land or land use. It will be installed for a period of approximately 18 months and is likely to be erected next month.

The met mast is an important part of Coronation Power's assessment of Crook Hill as a possible location for a wind farm comprising up to eleven turbines, with a potential output of approximately 33 MW.

A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), covering a range of issues such as landscape and visual impact, land use, ecology, nature conservation, air safeguarding, archaeology, hydrology, general safety, socio-economics, electro-magnetic interference and transport is being undertaken by Coronation Power.

As part of its commitment to keeping local communities informed of its plans, Coronation Power held a two day exhibition in Littleborough in May this year. Local residents and other stakeholders were invited to meet members of the Coronation team who explained the background and methodology involved in the technical and environmental assessments of the Crook Hill site. A second exhibition will be held once viable wind speeds have been confirmed and the Crook Hill EIA is complete.

If planning permission should subsequently be granted for the development of a wind farm, it will have the capacity to generate enough electricity to meet the domestic energy needs of almost 26% of Rochdale Borough Council's population, or approximately 21,000 homes. This would provide a significant contribution to the North West Regional renewable energy target and constitute a considerable contribution by Rochdale Borough Council towards its obligations under the government's Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) on renewable energy. Lancashire's renewable energy target is 167 MW by 2010.

Mary Gallagher, Coronation Power's Public Relations Manager said, "We welcome Defra's decision to confirm consent for our planning application for a met mast. It will provide us with valuable data on the site's viability as a location for a wind farm".

*Figures based on average annual household electricity consumption of 4.7 MWh as recommended by BWEA.

For further information please contact:
Coronation Power
Mary Gallagher (Public Relations Manager)
T: 020 7490 0669
E: mary@coronationpower.com

Notes to Editors
Coronation Power was established in 2004 to develop environmentally friendly, sustainable and economic energy technologies to meet the challenges of global warming. Its goal is to develop, own and operate wind farms that achieve a fair balance between sustainability, the environment and economic investment. Coronation Power cares deeply about the natural environment and each development takes into account the needs of people, animal's birds and natural habitats.

For further information about Coronation Power's proposal for Crook Hill and information relating to its other wind farm developments in the UK, visit the Coronation Power website: www.coronationpower.com