Wind farm bid goes in as talks continue
A scheme for one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms – just off the East Yorkshire coast – has come a step closer with the developers submitting a planning application and launching another round of public consultations.
A series of public exhibitions are planned so local people can have their say on the proposals by E.ON.
The company wants to build the 300MW Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm 8km off the coast of East Yorkshire, just north of the Humber estuary. It would have up to 83 turbines and generate enough power for up to 195,000 homes – more than one and a half times the number in Hull.
Humber Gateway Project Manager Chris Sherrington said: “If built, Humber Gateway would be one of the biggest offshore wind farms in the UK and would play a vital role in the fight against climate change.
“We’ve spent a great deal of time and effort studying how the wind farm would interact with the local environment and we feel it’s extremely important that we talk to the community about the findings of our studies, which form part of our planning application, and to hear their v
iews on the project.”
The company, which has submitted planning applications to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, is hosting a number of public exhibitions starting on Wednesday April 30, at Easington Community Hall.
Further events are planned on Thursday May 1 at Withernsea’s Northfield Country Club. and the following day at Alexandra Hall in Hedon. All three are 3pm to 8pm.
The first round of consultations when the scheme was unveiled won widespread support although the local fishing industry was divided with some fearing it will devastate livelihoods.
The Ministry of Defence also has a history of objecting to wind farms in zones where it conducts low flying and target practice, as it does in the area where the Humber Gateway is planned. An MoD spokesman promised a statement today over the Humber Gateway.
7 April 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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