Wind farms could mean more red sky at night for Valley residents
Residents of the Yarrow Valley will not only have a good daytime view of the giant wind turbines proposed for a site on the Minchmoor if the huge wind farm get the go-ahead, but they will also have a clear view of them at night thanks to a demand by defence officials for red aviation warning lights on top of each structure, writes Mark Entwistle.
The Ministry of Defence has now notified Scottish Borders Council that it has no objection to the application for 12 turbines for the Minchmoor location, submitted by Swedish energy firm Vattenfall, but that, if it is approved, the MoD has requested warning lights be fitted.
The lights, which would be fitted to the most practical point as high up as possible on the 107m-high structures, would measure 25 candela in brightness, with the exception of the southern-most turbine, which would have to be fitted with a 200-candela light.
This is because this turbine would be located very close to the entry to the Selkirk/Moffat Valley one-way system used by military aircraft.
Vattenfall is Europe’s fifth largest electricity generator and the largest heat generator from a mix of hydroelectric power, mainly located in northern Sweden – nuclear power at two plants in Sweden and at two plants in Germany, and gas and coal-based power in Germany and Poland.
Those living in the Yarrow Valley are also concerned about the impact of another planned wind farm, this time at Broadmeadows.
Alloa-based Greenpower has applied to place 13 wind turbines at Whitehope Rig near Broadmeadows Farm.
The company says the turbines would be 70m in height and claims they could provide energy for up to 24,000 homes per year.
Local Yarrowford resident, Brian Roberts, says he worries that people just do not realise the size of such turbines and the visual impact they have on the landscape.
“The turbines proposed for the Minchmoor will be very visible to residents in the Yarrow Valley, so we would certainly be able to see these red warning lights,” Mr Roberts told The Wee Paper this week.
By Mark Entwistle
Selkirk Weekend Advertiser
www.selkirkweekendadvertiser.co.uk
20 November 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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