Tuesday 2 June 2015

Wind Farm - don't abuse the landscape

Nocton Fen

Nocton Fen panorama stitch
The unadulterated view that is currently Nocton Fen... and long may this continue.

As it was with the factory farm planned for Nocton Heath, the battle to save Nocton Fen from being blighted with wind turbines is very much a 'David and Goliath' fight.

Vattenfall AB happens to be one of Europe's leading energy companies, wholly owned by the Swedish Government and as such, the PNF campaign will need every little bit of help it can get.  However, history has shown local campaigns can be won... with hard work, good research, perseverance and a little bit of good luck.

In the case of the 8,000 cow mega dairy, the saviours of the day happened to be the Environment Agency and an underground aquifer.  With the Nocton Fen wind farm, the saviours could actually be the UK Government with their proposed changes to planning legislation.  This may tip the balance in favour of the local campaign to stop this development going ahead.  The energy companies certainly seem rattled over the changes outlined in the Queen's Speech 2015!

Wind farm subsidies facing the axe

'Generous taxpayer subsidies will be cut off earlier than expected, effectively preventing thousands of turbines from being built, under plans being considered by Amber Rudd, the energy secretary.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/renewableenergy/11641088/Wind-farm-subsidies-facing-the-axe.html

Wind Farm invasion at an end as Tories plan to 'pull plug' on any new turbines

'THE wind farm invasion blighting Britain could come to an end under new government’ plans to pull the plug on funding for new turbines.'

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/581248/Wind-farms-Conservatives-David-Cameron-climate-change

New curbs can block 'health risk' wind farms: Government grants new powers for critics to stop the building of turbines

'Critics of huge wind farms received a boost last night after the Government gave them new powers to block the developments.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3104180/New-curbs-block-health-risk-wind-farms.html

Queen's Speech: Wind farm planning shake-up criticised

'Energy firms have criticised proposals to give local authorities, rather than ministers, the final say over proposed new wind farms over a certain size.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32905391

How to keep wind turbines turning

An argument for not building wind farms in clusters...

'If it is blowing a gale down at Lizard point in Cornwall, will the wind also be whistling across Lincolnshire, or howling through Inverness?'

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/25/weatherwatch-wind-turbines-research

Wind industry makes last-ditch effort to save subsidies

'Government plans to curtail onshore wind subsidy scheme will see millions of pounds of investments written off and "massively damage" investor confidence, ScottishPower claims.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11642302/Wind-industry-makes-last-ditch-effort-to-save-subsidies.html

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