14th September 2006

Mid-Devon District Council has granted consent to Coronation Power for the temporary erection of an anemometer mast on Bickham Moor. The decision was announced yesterday at a meeting of the Council's Planning Committee.

The 'met' mast will test wind strength and direction over land on Bickham Moor, near Rackenford, Mid-Devon. It will comprise a 60-metre aluminium tower, fixed to the ground by cables. Its installation will have limited impact on the land or land use and will be installed for a period of approximately 18 months.

The met mast is an important part of Coronation Power's assessment of Bickham Moor as a possible location for a small wind farm comprising up to four turbines with a combined capacity of 12 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 will be undertaken by Coronation Power before a decision is made to submit a planning application for a wind farm at the Bickham Moor site.

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 approximately 6,700 homes, or 20% of Mid-Devon's electricity requirements*. This would make a significant contribution towards meeting Devon's renewable energy targets of 150 MW by 2010 designated in the Devon Structure Plan.

Mary Gallagher, Coronation Power's Public Relations Manager said, "We welcome the Planning Committee's decision to grant consent to 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.

"The development of wind farms in the UK will make a significant contribution in the fight to reduce global warming. Every unit of electricity produced using wind power will displace one that would otherwise be generated using fossil fuels. In the political arena there is cross party support for the further development of wind power and it is regarded as an important component in the UK energy mix."

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

For further information please contact:
Mary Gallagher
Public Relations Manager
Coronation Power
Tel: 020 7490 0669
E-mail: mary@coronationpower.com

Notes for 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 Bickham Moor and information relating to its other wind farm developments in the UK, visit the Coronation Power website: www.coronationpower.com