Power crazy - Nuclear Plant Plans Will Destroy Community Owned Wind Farms
The German power company, RWE, has submitted plans for a nuclear power station at Kirksanton in Cumbria, which will result in the destruction of the two long established Haverigg windclusters, including three turbines owned by Triodos Renewables.
The Haverigg windcluster site, on the fringes of the Lake District National Park, is home to one of the UK’s first wind energy projects. Commissioned in 1992 by Windcluster Ltd, a small privately owned company, it was heralded by Friends of the Lake District as a fine example of appropriate wind energy development. The wind turbines were financed by a pioneering group of ethical investors and are widely regarded as an exemplary example of sensitive and sustainable wind energy development. The site was subsequently expanded to a total of eight turbines and enjoys widespread local support.
If RWE’s plans proceed, these turbines will be destroyed and the green electricity they produce will be lost.
Colin Palmer, founder of Windcluster Ltd, said: “The first we heard was when the proposals were made public, which is contrary to the nomination requirements that stipulate early consultation with key stakeholders. My first reaction was disbelief, quickly followed by a sense of years of commitment to sustainable energy being destroyed. At a time when the government is calling for wind energy development to be accelerated, it beggars belief that they are supporting plans that will result in the destruction of existing capacity.”
“I also wonder at the thinking of RWE. How can it promote its “Juice” green power from its own wind turbines while at the same time be exploiting the special planning powers available to nuclear power developers to destroy other wind energy projects”.
Triodos Renewables, a plc owned by over 4,000 investors, and the owner of three of the turbines on the site shares Windcluster's concerns. Its Operations Director, Matthew Clayton, said, “It's staggering that they don't exclude areas that are already productive sites for renewable technologies as part of the initial screening process. It just isn't very joined up. They're stamping out prime wind sites with arguably a much less sustainable technology.”
Baywind, the owner of another turbine, was founded in 1996 and over one third of its 1,300 members come from the local area. Baywind Director Annette Heslop commented: “Baywind is a pioneering and hugely successful project with a national profile; it is a source of great pride to many in this community and has served as an inspiration to thousands of people across the country. To face the prospect of having part of Baywind casually destroyed in this way is completely unacceptable. If a tiny fraction of the money pumped into nuclear plants was instead to be devoted to community renewables we might all face a much more sustainable future in which ordinary people owned their own energy supplies”.
(20 April 2009)
For more information please call James Niven on 0117 980 9721 / 07887 641 960 or Will Ferguson on 0117 980 9770, or email james.niven@triodos.co.uk.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Triodos Bank only finances enterprises creating social, environmental or cultural added value - ranging from large ethical enterprises to smaller, innovative organisations meeting local needs. Key sectors include organic food and farming, renewable energy, social housing and fair trade. Transparency is a core value: customers are informed about the bank’s lending and can target their savings to particular areas of investment. A range of personal savings accounts is offered and full banking services are available for businesses and charities.
Colin Palmer established Windcluster Ltd in 1988. It was one of the first wind energy development companies in the UK. In 1992 Windcluster Ltd commissioned its first project at Haverigg and commenced the development of a four turbine second phase. The Haverigg I windcluster was financed by a pioneering group of ethical investors. The second phase was acquired by the Triodos Renewables and the Baywind Energy Co-operative.
In 2005 the original five Haverigg I turbines were replaced with four larger, more modern units, using further investment from the original investors along with finance from Triodos Bank.
The Haverigg airfield is an exceptional wind energy site. It is very productive due to the exposure to winds from the Irish Sea and allows the normal farming activities to proceed unhindered. The new turbines are less than five years old and are designed to run for at least another 20 years.
For more information see:
www.triodosrenewables.co.uk
www.windcluster.co.uk
www.baywind.co.uk
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