September 7, 2006
U.K.
U.K.
An energy company has announced plans to create a 10-turbine wind farm in a job-boosting, £6m project.
But the proposals have met with criticism from a wind farm protester who said the developments near Hartlepool destroyed the landscape and were not efficient.
E.ON UK, the company that runs Powergen, wants to build a wind farm on land at Butterwick, near Sedgefield, just north of the A689.
The Butterwick Moor Wind Farm would complement the eight turbines which are due to be built on the site by another energy company, Wind Prospect, which has already gained planning permission for a development called Walkway Wind Farm.
E.ON said its plans would create enough energy to supply around 9,000 households and would benefit the economy of the local community.
A company spokesman said: “Constructing, operating and maintaining the Butterwick Moor Wind Farm will involve an investment into the local and regional economy of over £6m, creating and supporting jobs.
“In addition to this direct economic benefit, a community fund will be set up that is estimated to contribute over £500,000 towards worthy local projects.”
Margaret Flynn, of the Trimdon Area Group against Wind Turbines, said it would be difficult to oppose the plans because the Walkway Wind Farm had already gained planning permission.
“Once permission is granted in an area, there is no excuse for not extending the development,” she said.
“Wind turbines are completely destructive to the countryside and it is just industrialisation of the countryside.
“If you put a wind turbine in every field in this country, there would still not be enough power to go around.”
An exhibition of E.ON’s plans is being held at Trimdon Village Hill, Trimdon, on Wednesday, September 20, between 5pm and 9pm. For more information, contact Alex Fornal on 02476 183572.
07 September 2006
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/07/new-wind-farm-plans/