I wish I had been at EnergieKontor project manager Conrad Atkinson’s wind farm briefing to Craven District Council.
Depending on who Mr Atkinson talks to, the planned wind turbines are up to 126 metres tall. Compare this to Malham Cove at 80 metres and the London Eye at 135 metres. Now, picture six of them in the heart of Craven’s beautiful landscape.
I wonder if Mr Atkinson told our councillors that each of his giant, 2.5 megawatt turbines will likely produce only half a megawatt. And what of the cost? In times of soaring energy prices, guess who foots the bill for government subsidies to wind farm operators? We do – in our electricity bills. Why no mention of this in Mr Atkinson’s briefing?
But then Mr Atkinson’s briefing begs another question: has he really decided that six turbines is a better option than 11; or is he having trouble acquiring enough land to meet the original plan?
Like I said, I wish I’d been there to hear it all. It’s time for us to ask some hard questions; better still, it’s time for Mr Atkinson and EnergieKontor to answer them.
Chris Emmett, Bank Newton, Gargrave, Skipton
15 February 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/02/15/its-time-to-ask-questions/