March 18, 2008
England
England
Plans have been unveiled for a wind park on land near Alveston.
Stroud-based power company Ecotricity want to erect three wind turbines – each 210ft high and generating enough power to supply more than 5,000 homes – on farm land off Old Gloucester Road at Earthcott Green.
The turbines – fitted with blades almost 40ft long – would generate approximately 16.75 GWh of power each year, offsetting thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide over a lifespan of up to 30 years.
Backers say the scheme would repay the ‘carbon debt’ (the energy used during its life cycle – from production to maintenance and decommissioning) in three to 12 months.
The proposed Alveston Wind Park is the subject of a special public exhibition which opened this week in Frampton Cotterell, prior to moving to Thornbury Library where it will run from next Tuesday until April 8.
The exhibition includes photomontages of the proposed turbines as well as information on wind power technology and the damaging effects of climate change.
Ecotricity describes itself as the world’s first green electricity company.
Managing director and founder Dale Vince said: “Burning fossil fuels to make electricity is damaging our environment. It’s the single biggest cause of climate change in our country today, responsible for 30 percent of our CO2 emissions.
“We take the money customers spend on electricity and invest it in clean forms of power like wind energy. We are the only green electricity company actually building these new renewable energy sources. This year alone we’re investing £25 million in wind energy.”
The firm has been selling renewable power across the country since 1996. Customers include the Body Shop and Co-operative Bank and the company is also recommended by the Soil Association and World Wildlife Fund.
“Switching takes about five minutes but it’s the biggest single step people can take to reduce their emissions and protect the environment,” said Mr Vince.
The company is already behind three wind turbines which began generating last year on the banks of the Severn Estuary at Avonmouth and are set to yield 15 million kilowatt hours of electricity every year for the next 30 years.
The Alveston scheme is currently out for consultation before the firm makes a formal application to South Gloucestershire planners.
Further information on the proposals and a chance to comment can be found by visiting www.ecotricity.co.uk/alveston.
By Jeff Weaver
18 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/18/wind-park-plans-are-unveiled/