Hi everyone,
Just wondered, with the debate that has been raging recently over the planned wind farm (I think it’s in Cumbria) how you all feel about it. Is it a question of "Yes, I’m all for it, so long as it’s not on my back yard"?
They built a huge one (I think the biggest in the UK) at Swaffham in Norfolk near where I have a cottage, a few years ago and it dismayed me, seeing this beautiful Georgian town with a 21st Century wind turbine hovering behind it. However, I am also very keen to see Europe (and the world) harness natural power – wind, waves, sunshine, which don’t cause pollution and I’m sure everyone on HP agrees. (I just wish they hadn't built this particular one so close to a historic town - there are countless square miles of fields around) I'm quite happy about the turbine you pass on the northern bit of the M25 for instance (though there are probably locals who are not) - as it's not in a particularly beautiful area, like the propsed new farm will be.
The one thing though that I can’t understand is why all wind farms are not built out at sea where they wouldn’t spoil the landscape (unlike some fans, I do not think they are beautiful!) There’s an answer to that question that I found here about building them out at sea – it appears that it’s all due to (surprise, surprise) cost.
http://www.ecotricity.com/windenergy/index.html
I’d be interested to hear your comments.
Judy
RE: Wind farms
Hi
I am all for them & I wouldn't mind if they where all around where I live...we have a lot of mobile phone masts about which I do object to!!![:@]
Love
Amy
RE: Wind farms
Wind farms at sea are more difficult to get planning permission for to. Not only do you have to do the normal checks but you have to take into consideration the navigation aspects (like idiots in their boats not being able to see the big white poles and driving into them) and how the piles themselves are going to affect the surrounding environment (change in water and sediment movement meaning little animals could be covered up, shifted around). Then of course yes the cost of building them is alot more cause you have to ship everything out, cofferdam the area to remove the water then start digging. Theres also the townsfolk of the coastal towns who normally don't want their scenery ruined by the turbines, even if they won't be able to see them.....
To be honest, I don't really think wind power is the way to go. I think more research/effort should be put into wave generated power....
RE: Wind farms
Why don't they just plonk a turbine on the top of all the tower buildings within cities. Plenty of wind up there and it's not going to make the landscape any more ugly.
I'm in favour of anything that is done to utilise natural power resources, and I think that nomatter where you choose to put them, you're gonna end up upsetting somebody. When picking sites for these wind turbines, they have to take account of where there is suitable wind (they should try our board room full of directors. :D). Plonking them in the middle of open fields is not always the best place whereas near hills etc. is more suitable as there is a concentration of the wind and more power available.
I think more should be done to provide homes with solar power as there's plenty of energy to be caught from the sun. (even in the UK!)
Hugs
RE: Wind farms
Actually there is a windfarm off the North Wales coast - you can see it from the A55 if you drive from Chester towards Colwyn Bay (or vice versa). I've just finished a tour of Wales and there's another big one near Newtown (forget the name of the road.) Maybe because I don't live near one, I have no objections to them at all and actually find them quite easy on the eye, even amongst green fields and hills. However, my American passengers tell me that they do kill a lot of birds, which is dreadful, although I thought I remembered reading an English report which claimed this was a myth. BTW didn't Tony Blair just recently say that he wanted to build more nuclear power stations, or increase the capacity of those we already have? If I had to choose between living next door to a windfarm or a nuclear power station, I know which I 'd prefer!
Love
Sunanda
PS Interesting thread, Judy. BTW I have pmed you.