February 13, 2008
England

Plans for wind turbines unveiled

Plans to build up to six 125m (410ft) turbines that could generate power for 5,500 homes and businesses in east Berkshire have been unveiled.

The University of Reading is behind the proposals for the wind farm on its land by the M4 at Rushy Mead, Shinfield.

The farm would be funded and run by Partnerships for Renewables (PfR).

The firm and the university have said they will consult the local community on the development and public exhibitions will be held.

John Heggadon, of Shinfield Parish Council, said he did not disagree with the plans in principal but said the university and PfR would need to look a the details.

‘Bold statement’

He said: “I think the problem is with something that is 125m high, and half a dozen of these, that is 3m taller than the Green Park wind turbine, which has already shown to be only 17% efficient with the figures that came out after the first year of operation.

“The impact on the landscape will be pretty huge, but of course it is a very bold statement being made by the university, saying: ‘Yes, we are here’.”

Professor Gordon Marshall, vice-chancellor at the University of Reading, said: “The development of renewable energy projects sits right at the heart of much of the university’s world renowned research into sustainability and climate change issues”.

He said it would also “make good use of currently under utilised land and generate considerable green energy to help the fight against climate change”.

He added: “There is still a lot of work to do to ensure that any proposal at Rushy Mead is sympathetically designed to the local environment and proves a real asset to both the university and the local community.”

BBC News

13 February 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/02/13/plans-for-wind-turbines-unveiled/