Here are 7 reasons why they don’t make sense for Milton Keynes…
1. Building wind turbines in areas of low wind like ours goes against common sense
Experts say that anything less than a 30% load factor is inefficient but wind farms in this region are struggling to get 20%. There just isn’t enough wind! That’s why Your Energy wont let anyone see the wind data they have collected from the site.
“You might get a capacity factor of 30% in a more traditionally windy site, such as [in] Scotland” [Alison Hood, Your Energy Spokesperson]
“[Wind farm developers’ figures] are generally grossly exaggerated – frequently the likely electricity generated would be about two thirds of that the developers are claiming” [Michael Jefferson, Policies Chairman of the World Renewable Energy Network and former Chief Economist with Shell]
2. Your money will pay for Your Energy’s inefficient wind factory
Up to 60% of wind farm revenues come from subsidies paid for by your electricity bills – £600 million to wind farms alone this year, that’s up to £90 per year per household. Let’s get value for money and only support worthwhile schemes.
3. Wind industry experts say that underperforming wind-farms supported by heavy subsidies are pushing our electricity costs up
Without the subsidies, no-one would build wind farms in this area. Bad investments in inefficient energy infrastructure waste our subsidies and push electricity costs up for years to come, making the UK less competitive.
4. The proposed site will devastate one of the last unspoilt areas of deep countryside and a haven for wildlife in Milton Keynes
As our city grows the greenbelt countryside is disappearing – this development would turn an area rich in rare species like birds of prey, bats and newts into an industrial “brown field” site.
5. Views of our beautiful valley will be ruined by Britain’s biggest ever wind turbines
The developers don’t care because they are cashing in. Your Energy are owned by an overseas investment company, so what do they care for our landscape? The landowner is likely to get over £70,000 per year, mostly from your subsidies – he cares more about the cash.
6. Nearby footpaths of total tranquillity will be scarred by turbine noise, light flicker and the corpses of dead and dying birds!
Birds hit by the blades are flung for hundreds of metres around the turbines – who would want to walk their children and dogs down paths littered with dead and dying birds?
7. The damage done to the countryside will be forever
Not only will investors want the turbines to stay for as long as they keep working, but the proposals do not cover the huge costs of removing the wind factory and its vast concrete foundations. They will want to leave the foundations behind, a brown-field site ripe for re-development!
We are certain that for all these reasons the proposed wind factory makes sense only if you want to make a fast buck from subsidies and you don’t care about our environment.
If you want to prevent global warming and protect your environment but also get sensible investment in renewable energy, please write to Milton Keynes Council by letter or by email and tell them about your concerns:
Email peter.joel@milton-keynes.gov.uk or write to
Development Control,
Environment Directorate, MK Council,
Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East,
Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3ZL
Please include the planning reference (06/01349/FULEIS) your full name and postal address.
26 October 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/10/26/7-wind-turbines-near-emberton/