May 29, 2015
England

Controversial wind turbines out of action due to technical hitch

Harwich and Manningtree Standard | www.harwichandmanningtreestandard.co.uk

A controversial wind farm has been out of action for weeks because of a technical hitch.

The five giant turbines at Earls Hall Farm, on the outskirts of Clacton, are standing motionless.

Nearby residents said the 150ft blades had not turned for weeks.

The 400ft-high turbines tower over the surrounding countryside and homes.

They were built in 2011, despite hundreds of objections to the wind farm.

Protesters set up a campaign group called STAPLE – South Tendring Acting to Protect our Local Environment – to fight the proposals.

Tendring Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected the proposals, but energy firm npower Renewables successfully appealed against the decision, which was overturned by a government inspector after a public inquiry.

He ruled the turbines would not “significantly harm” the landscape. The wind farm should produce enough electricity to power 6,300 homes and cut CO2 emissions by 15,000 tonnes a year.

It was taken over by Greencoat UK Wind in October 2013.

A spokesman said the turbines had been turned off because a problem with the local grid meant they were unable to export power to the network.

“They are waiting for a part so it should be fixed next week or the week after,” he said.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/05/29/controversial-wind-turbines-out-of-action-due-to-technical-hitch/