Campaigners highlight barrage 'danger'.ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners and experts met to discuss what they claim to be the dangers posed by plans to harness the waters of the Severn Estuary. The meeting pre-empts the announcement of a finalised shortlist of projects to harness tidal power tidal power Electricity produced by turbines operated by tide flow. Large amounts of power are potentially available from the tides in certain locations, such as Canada's Bay of Fundy, where the tidal range reaches more than 50 ft (15 m), but this potential power is not and energy from the Severn es-tuarywhich experts say could have a far reaching impact on the area which includes South Wales. A number of keynote speakers gathered at the Wildfowl wildfowl: see waterfowl. & Wetlands Trust (WWT WWT Wastewater Treatment WWT What Was That? WWT Warioware Touched (Nintendo DS game) WWT Warioware Twisted! (Game Boy Advance game) WWT What a Waste of Time WWT World's Worst Tourist WWT Wall Wash Test ) at Slimbridge to discuss the role of the estuary in adapting to climate change. WWT chief executive Martin Spray said: "We have two choices. You can allowthe environment and its wildlife to adapt, while harnessing renewable energy from the estuary in a sustainable manner - or you can build a 10m high barrage from Cardiff to Weston, destroying the es-tuarin its wake. "The challenge is to harness the much-needed power of the Severn's tide and avoid destroying the nature of the estuary. Government has a chance to show real leadership and put the UK at the forefront of tidal power technology." |
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