According to Tim Lewis’s article entitled “Local energy projects bring people together” (July 19), the Economic & Social Research Centre singled out the wind farm at Moel Maelogan, Llanrwst, for particular praise.
Had this research centre bothered to do even the most cursory research, it would have found that the two wind turbines on site (in fact there are three turbines on site) do not “power 5000 homes in the area”, as claimed.
The insignificant amounts of power produced by these turbines feeds directly into the National Grid. It is not fed directly to local homes.
Far from “bringing people together” this wind farm development has split the community.
Having gained planning permission for three turbines, the wind-farm company then put in a second application for a further nine turbines. A petition of more than 1,500 signatures objecting to the scheme was handed to the planning office, but the development was approved by just one vote.
Sure, the scheme provides “a new income stream for local farmers” – two farmers, in fact, while 52 neighbouring farmers objected to any enlargement of the scheme.
Reports such as these are deeply misleading and call into question the integrity of research centres who build up evidence to support a cause based on false facts.
J YOUNG
CLOUT (Conwy Locals Opposing Unnecessary Turbines),Pandy Tudur, Abergele
23 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/23/bitter-wind/