June 29, 2013
England

Campaigners celebrate wind farm substation victory

Sleaford Standard | 29 June 2013 | www.sleafordstandard.co.uk

Local campaigners were celebrating after developers behind an offshore wind farm scheme opted not to site an electricity substation on their doorstep, instead selecting another site on the opposite site of the South Forty Foot Drain between Swineshead and Bicker.

RWE NPower Renewables had been studying four sites on which to locate the substation compound to hook up to the National Grid. It would link underground power cables from the Triton Knoll offshore windfarm off the county’s coast.

Matt Mountain, of Great Halem has been one of the campaigners fighting against the selection of the site option located within the parish, saying it would badly affect the local environment.

He thanked all residents that took the time to visit one of the exhibitions and contact RWE during the consultation period.

“The Great Hale response was overwhelmingly strong and unified. Specific thanks should also go to the local parish councils of Great Hale and Heckingtonm,” he said.

Jacob Hain, Triton Knoll project manager, said: “The preferred locations were selected by balancing environmental, technical, economic and engineering considerations alongside the key issues identified by local residents. Not only did local knowledge carry more weight in the evaluation, it has crucially influenced the design of the electrical system. For example, we have now committed to build an alternative construction road that avoids the village of Bicker.

“We will continue to work with the local community as we develop our project.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/29/campaigners-celebrate-wind-farm-substation-victory/