I've found out some shocking facts about big windfarms 

On the face of it I was in favour of the proposed wind farm at Thacksons Well, (between Long Bennington and Bottesford) but as with all government schemes, I find it better to do my own research before making a decision.

What I have found shocked me. Industrial wind farms are not CO2 savers and are not good for the environment.

Trees must be cut down to make way for the turbines, conversion facilities and transmission cables, and roads built for installation access.

Once up and running, turbines need good old fossil fuel power station backup on standby (meaning running) all the time because turbines only run at full capacity for 25 per cent of the time.

The Advertising Standards Authority has already ruled that Renewable Energy Systems (a turbine installion company) had used misleading figures about its potential CO2 savings on its leaflets.

A study by the Renewable Energy Foundation shows that England and Wales are not windy enough to allow large turbines to work at the rates claimed for them. The foundation, a charity that aims to evaluate wind and other forms of renewable energy on an equal basis, based its study of more than 500 turbines now in operation on data supplied by companies to Ofgem, the energy regulator.

The study shows that even wind farms in Cornwall on west-facing coasts, which might be expected to be the most efficient, operated at only 24·1 per cent of capacity on average.

The large spinning blades decimate wildlife, especially large, rare, predatory or migratory birds and bats.

They are dangerous, many have burst into flames, throwing fireballs, massive broken blades and chunks of ice for hundreds of metres.

The noise, vibration and flickering light produced by one turbine development has caused Jane and Julian Davis of Deeping St Nicholas to abandon their now worthless home and rent somewhere else further away just to sleep at night.

And worst of all, I discovered that the company involved in the Thacksons Well development (Infinergy) has a rather dubious background to say the least.

Infinergy’s partner Koop Duurzame Energie (KDE) is part of the Koop Group tainted for its role at the centre of a multi-million pound construction industry price fixing scam.

I agree that renewables should be a part of our lives. I now know that on-shore wind power does not live up to it’s claims and is not the answer.

A cheaper and much more effective option would be to reduce demand, say by handing out low energy light bulbs for instance.

One bulb per household would negate the need for one power station.

The spare millions in tax payers money saved could be used by the local schools or hospital.

It’s not a case of NIMBY.

Infinergy’s proposed development really isn’t anywhere near my back yard.

I would just rather see that my tax money isn’t wasted on this classic ‘snake oil’ scam dressed in green clothing.

It does make me ask the question: What does Infinergy have to do in order for us not to throw more taxpayers’ money at them?

Install turbines in playgrounds at head height?!?

PETER STEWARD
Church Street, Foston

Grantham Journal

14 September 2007