For more details of Your Energy, who are proposing the wind farm, see their web site: www.your-energy.co.uk
For information on renewable energy targets and assessment of environmental impact by Government Office for the South West and the South West Regional Assembly click here
There are two sides to the story:
Advocating wind power are The World Wildlife Fund, Friends of The
Earth and Greenpeace, see their point of view at http://www.yes2wind.co.uk
Arguing the case against is Country Guardian, President is Nigel Evans MP, Vice President Sir Bernard Ingham. Neil Kinnock was Patron until he was obliged to resign under the terms of his new appointment as European Commissioner.
To have your say visit our forum and put your point of view.
Following is the full press release from Your Energy dated 19th November 2003
Generating a Fresh Future for West Somerset
Your Energy, a leading independent wind developer, is pleased to announce that it is looking at the feasibility of developing a project on land adjacent to the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point. If the project gets the go ahead it will power almost 20,000 local homes, enough to meet the entire domestic needs of West Somerset, with clean, economic and renewable electricity.
Your Energy wants to consult the public about the potential for a wind farm in the area to ensure that any future planning application considers the views of all interested parties. A mobile exhibition unit will be at the Stogursey Village Hall car park on Monday 8th December between 6pm and 9pm and at Cannington College between 11am and 6pm on Tuesday 9th December.
The Exhibition unit will provide local residents with access to information on why renewable energy is becoming a growing part of the UK’s energy supply, general facts about wind energy as well as how the proposed site was identified. Representatives from Your Energy will be on hand to answer any questions throughout the exhibitions.
Charles Sandham, Director of Your Energy stressed that this is one aspect of an ongoing consultation process; “At this stage we are carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment for one possible layout on the site, but the final location and number of turbines have yet to be determined. We want to find out what local people think about our potential project before we finalise our proposals.”
Your Energy’s development philosophy applies strict site selection criteria and involves an intensive period of early consultation prior to the submission of definite proposals. Stakeholder groups such as English Nature and the Somerset Wildlife Trust have provided input into the scheme.
Every year the green electricity generated by the project will offset over 74,500 tonnes of the greenhouse gas associated with climate change, Carbon Dioxide. However, as well as the global benefits the project will bring significant local benefits.
Project manager, Herbert Lindlahr went on to add, “Typically, in excess of £3 million worth of contracts would be available for local and regional companies during the construction phase alone, a project such as this can bring a real boost the local economy.”
