September 20, 2014
England

Windfarm bid to be unveiled

Northumberland Gazette | 18 September 2014 | www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk

Public exhibitions are taking place next week to unveil new proposals for a windfarm in north Northumberland.

The proposed Ditchburn windfarm, to the north-east of Eglingham, is planned to consist of up to nine wind turbines with an installed capacity of up to 27 megawatts and has the potential to generate enough electricity to power more than 17,000 homes.

Developer PNE WIND UK Limited expects to lodge a planning application by January 2015.

Over the next few months, the company will be consulting local communities, meeting parish councils and holding two rounds of public-consultation exhibitions.

At these events, members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions.

The exhibitions will also have an interactive 3D computer visualisation which offers a scale representation of how the proposed windfarm would appear from different viewpoints.

Next week, the events take place on Tuesday, from 4pm to 7.30pm at South Charlton Village Hall, and on Wednesday from 4pm to 7.30pm at Eglingham Village Hall.

Laura Jeffrey, PNE WIND project manager, said: “Wind energy is starting to fulfil its potential in diversifying and strengthening our energy supply.

“Figures this August showed that wind exceeded the rates of electricity production by coal on five separate occasions and overall generated 10 per cent of the nation’s electricity in the month.

“If consented, the Ditchburn windfarm will further strengthen this contribution and help create a more diverse and stable energy supply.

“As well as generating a significant amount of renewable energy, the proposal would bring a range of other benefits to the local community such as contract opportunities for local businesses during construction.

“PNE will also be meeting new government guidance and providing a community benefit fund of £5,000 per installed MW.

“These funds provide an unparalleled opportunity for the community to invest in their area, whether in new community services, improved transport, tourism infrastructure, apprenticeships or environmental improvements, creating a positive legacy from the windfarm for years to come.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/09/20/windfarm-bid-to-be-unveiled/