Airtricity hits turbulence over UK wind farm plan
Airtricity has hit a major setback with a proposed wind farm in Norfolk, after two landowners opted to pull out of a project to build a new 12 turbine wind farm.
Norfolk community, preparing to fight plans for a 12-turbine wind farm, is celebrating after landowners pulled out of the scheme.
Airtricity Development had faced strong opposition to plans for the 125m turbines in Mosseymere in Norfolk, with a local community group being formed to fight the development.
But pressure from locals has already had a direct impact with two landowners pulling out of the deal and leaving Airtricity without access to a site for the new wind turbines.
Airtricity has faced similar opposition before, including in the US, where objectors can be well-funded. One anti-wind farm campaign, based on the New England island of Nantucket, managed to raise €1.25m ($1.8m) which is being used to oppose a wind-farm development on the island.
While UK protestors are less well-endowed, they have proven a thorn in the side of the wind industry and at the very least can cause extensive delays to projects. Airtricity has proven itself capable of dealing with objectors.
In May of this year it got the go-ahead, despite a local campaign to keep the turbines out of Langhope Rig, an area of countryside three miles west of Ashkirk in the Scottish Borders. Plans to build the €30.9m (£25m) development were cleared, but only following a five-day public inquiry.
There were about 350 letters against siting the wind farm in an area described as a tranquil spot, popular with walkers and tourists.
The plans for 10 400ft turbines submitted by Airtricity were originally turned down by the Scottish Borders Council, which had decided the impact on the landscape would be unacceptable.
But a Scottish Government planning reporter reversed the decision following an appeal by Airtricity.
Earlier this year, Airtricity sold its US business to German company E.ON and followed this deal by selling out completely to Scottish & Southern Energy, in a deal which valued Airtricity — including the proceeds of the US sale — at €2.2bn.
By Pat Boyle
5 September 2008
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