January 18, 2008
England
England
A windfarm proposed for Westnewton has generated more than 2,000 comments from the public.
Broadview Energy Ltd applied for permission to erect five turbines, which they say will generate enough renewable energy to supply 6,989 households a year.
But John Ryden, chairman of Westnewton parish council, argues it would require 1,600 such windfarms to create the same amount of electricity as a 1,200mw nuclear power station. He compared such planning applications to the California Gold Rush.
“The gold rushes of past times in places such as California and Alaska resulted in riches for a few at the expense of the indigenous people and the environment,” he said.
“The latest gold rush does not involve any sort of mining, but the scramble by speculators to obtain planning permission for wind turbines in some of the most unspoilt parts of Britain.”
When consultation ended last Thursday, Allerdale Council had received 1,757 letters in objection and 435 in support. Broadview said it has a further 320 letters of support to add after surveying Maryport, Wigton and Carlisle.
18 January 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/01/18/windfarm-generates-controversy/