Wind Power News: U.K.
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Planning officers reject windfarm proposals at Sorbie Dairy Farm
An application to increase the proposed height of wind turbines so plans for a windfarm could go ahead has been rejected. North Ayrshire Council officers refused the application for the site at Sorbie Dairy Farm on Wednesday, February 5. Councillors previously put in a request for the full planning committee to determine the application’s fate but were rejected. The refusal to allow the size of the turbine blade tip from 104.3m to 125m was because it contravened the council’s Local . . . Complete story »
Onshore wind critic Leadsom sacked as UK energy secretary
UK energy secretary Andrea Leadsom has been sacked in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle after six months heading up the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Leadsom, a high-profile critic of onshore wind, challenged Johnson for the leadership of the Conservative party in 2019. However, she was seen as a staunch supporter of the prime minister as well as a leading campaigner for Brexit. Leadsom was a controversial figure to the UK renewables sector after completing an initial . . . Complete story »
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack accused of ‘callous’ answer on Fife wind farm jobs
Union bosses have criticised Scottish Secretary Alister Jack after he suggested wind turbines being built in Indonesia for Scottish sites was the market economy at work. The £2 billion Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG) project off the Fife coast is set to be one of the country’s biggest renewable projects, but it’s still not clear if Scotland will get a key cut of the contract. There are suggestions that just eight turbines might be built in Scotland while the rest are . . . Complete story »
Massive wind turbine on coast stops working
The Gulliver wind turbine at Lowestoft’s Ness Point has stopped working – with engineers saying they are doing all they can to get it turning again. Stormy weather from Storm Ciara, which has brought winds of up to 70mph to the Suffolk coast, would have provided an ideal opportunity to harness the energy benefits of the 125m landmark. The three-blade turbine at Ness Point, which was the largest onshore turbine in the UK when it was built 16 years ago, . . . Complete story »
Two wind turbines get go-ahead near North Norfolk coast
Two controversial wind turbines near the north Norfolk coast have been given the go ahead after years of battles between developers, residents and the local council. The Planning Inspectorate has approved the turbines between Sheringham and Holt after North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) tried to have them stopped. The decision means a 66m turbine can be built at Pond Farm, Bodham and a 78m turbine can go ahead at Selbrigg Farm in Hempstead. The planned sites are around 3km away . . . Complete story »
North residents voice health fears over wind turbine noise
A former Caithness councillor has spoken out about the impact of wind turbine noise on residents’ health. Gillian Coghill said she has been approached by several neighbours convinced the towers are damaging their quality of life. Caithness has 227 operational turbines, with as many again in the pipeline for planning approval. Mrs Coghill said: “I decided to do a bit of research on this subject and what I found was quite eye-opening. “Infrasound, the noise produced by wind turbines travels . . . Complete story »
Fury over plan for 46 turbines at Highland beauty spot
Residents of a Highland village are preparing to do battle over plans for a huge wind farm within picturesque Glen Affric. German company Vento Ludens Ltd submitted a scoping report to the Scottish Government in November for the construction of 46 wind turbines at Fasnakyle. It would cover 5,000 acres to the south-east of Tomich, within the area once proposed for the Beinn Mhor Wind Farm, but expanding into areas of Guisachan Forest. Each turbine would, under the initial proposals, . . . Complete story »
Row over proposed wind turbine policy for Northumberland
Opponents have called for the ‘flawed’ and ‘unsound’ policy on wind turbines in the Northumberland Local Plan to be scrapped. Gregory Jones QC, representing the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, said it ‘should be struck out’, during a hearing as part of the independent examination of the key document. Kevin Tipple, a senior planning officer at Northumberland County Council, conceded there was some work to do, but added: “We do feel the approach is sound.” However, Mr Jones said that ‘make . . . Complete story »
Carmarthenshire council working towards carbon neutral status
Leaders in Carmarthenshire want to install wind turbines and solar farms on council-owned land as part of a new plan to become net carbon zero by 2030. Executive board members have approved a plan to become carbon neutral in four areas initially – non-domestic buildings, like leisure centres and schools; fleet mileage, such as refuse lorries; business mileage – car journeys taken by employees; and street lighting. Targets will be developed as part of an annual review of the action . . . Complete story »
Powys Council in trouble with commissioner over wind farm response
Powys County Council (PCC) has been rapped over the knuckles by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for failing to respond to a request for information within the statutory time limit of 20 days. The request was made under Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) which is very similar to the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) but deals with environmental issues. PCC said it is “taking steps” to comply with the commissioner’s notice. On October 17, 2019 a request for information about the . . . Complete story »
