Extracts from the Nov-Dec 2002 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

8. Wind Backlash

The full impact of the objections to local wind projects is revealed in the results of the planning successes and rejections in the period June 1999 to May 2000, involving 124MW of capacity.

Country Guardian and its ilk are not the only problem. As noted in Renew 139, a recent parliamentary statement indicated that Ministry of Defence has objected to more than half the proposal for on land wind projects so far, although subsequently Brian Wilson tried to soften this by suggesting that some of the objections were the result of preliminary discussions and in fact helped wind developers avoid the costs of pursuing full applications for unviable sites.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, so far, along with national and international organisations like WWF, FoE, Greenpeace and SERA, a supporter of wind projects, has come under fire from some some members for this stance. The Summer 2002 issues of RSPB’s journal Birds (Vol. 19. NO.2) carries two hostile letters, one from Bristol focusing on the proposed scheme on the Isle of Lewis (where it seems the migration of whooper swans may be effected) the other from Cheshire complaining about the Cefn Croes project in Wales, recycling some conventional anti wind rhetoric (‘alien giants imposed against the will of local people’ that are ‘pretty well useless anyway’ with a ‘thumping noise can that be heard day and night’ and concrete tower bases ‘as big as an Olympic swimming pool’.)

The RSPB replied in very measured terms pointing out that it dealt with each proposal on merit and that ‘if there is a threat to birds from any development we always object to it’. It had in fact objected to specific features of five wind farms in Wales, with, in four cases, the problem being resolved and in the fifth the project being withdrawn. They had yet to decide on the Lewis project. In general they did not advocate new renewable generation in scenically sensitive areas but ‘did advocate policies that encourage construction in less sensitive areas’.

So its not all bad news. Certainly the wind boom in Scotland seems to be continuing. The UK’s windiest wind farm was opened this summer at Bein an Tuirc, Argyll, with 46 wind turbines able to deliver of 30 MW in total. Built by Scottish Power, the £21m project is situated on the Kintyre peninsula where wind resources are amongst the best in Europe. The 40 metre high towers sit on top of the highest hill in Kintyre 454 metres above sea level. The wind travels unimpeded, gathering speed, until it hits the 47 metre diameter blades.

The wind farm is the first of what is hoped to be three windfarm developments in Argyll by Scottish power. Two further developments, one of which has already gained consent, are expected to bring local jobs, primarily in their construction. The local turbine factory in Machrihanish is expected to benefit. In addition, as part of the windfarm project, conservation reserves will be created on the surrounding land, to help build the threatened population of black grouse. Also, the windfarm is situated at the edge of a long established golden eagle territory and during development there has been large scale habitat management aimed at making the area more sustainable in the future.