January 26, 2012
England

Councillor hails pylon plan change for Triton Knoll wind farm

Louth Leader, www.louthleader.co.uk 26 January 2012

A dramatic turnaround looks likely to see power from a proposed new wind farm off the coast of Mablethorpe brought inland near Boston, and not through East Lindsey.

RWE NPower Renewables wants to build what would be one of the world’s biggest offshore wind farms, Triton Knoll, 20 miles off the Lincolnshire coast, powering up to 850,000 homes.

They initially planned to bring power inland through a 50 mile network of pylons across East Lindsey but the National Grid have now revised that and offered use of a substation at Bicker Fen via new underground cabling.

Lincolnshire County Councillor Colin Davie, a campaigner against bringing the power through East Lindsey, said it was a ‘battle won’ for local people.

“It’s wonderful to know that when people get together they can create a successful outcome like this,” he said.

“Lincolnshire has been known for generations for its big open skies and landscapes and now that will be able to continue.”

The project would also require construction of eight offshore substations and a network of cables buried under the sea bed.

Feedback from public consultations held around the area have led RWE to reduce the number of turbines within the project from 333 to 288.

The firm is currently putting together its final planning application which will be submitted to independent planners, IPC (Infrastructure Planning Commission).

RWE say 80 per cent of those who attended consulations supported the project.

Triton Knoll’s development manager, Jacob Hain, said: “We will work alongside National Grid and undertake further technical and design studies to understand what the electrical system will comprise.

“We will also commence environmental and engineering studies to find the best potential sites and routes for the electrical infrastructure.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/26/councillor-hails-pylon-plan-change-for-triton-knoll-wind-farm/