A Question of Wind Turbines

[SeaShore]

Hi Everyone,
Some time ago on the island a couple I knew were looking at putting wind turbines on their land. The surrounding village - which was a very beautiful and expensive place to live - was in uproar. A huge campaign to ban the wind turbines ensued for several years. The couple in question had a small child of about five years old and he had hate mail put in his book bag at school! It was dreadful. The turbines didn't go ahead and now a set are being erected a few miles away on some down land. Again, the island is split between those who are adamantly against the things and those who are for them. My mum who lives very close to these downs hates the idea - while her partner is pro.

I feel that it's vital we explore every avenue for creating a greener, more eco-friendly planet and even if the turbines don't function at their best straight away then at least this will be the first wave of test runs in the journey towards finding sustainable energy.
What does everyone else think about the wind turbine question?

[jazzactivist]

I agree with you that we need to switch to greener energy production, SeaShore, but object to large areas of wind turbines which, whatever way you look at it, damage the environment that they are in, and the companies that erect them only do so to make a profit. A few up on a hill serving the local communities are OK, but large areas of wind turbines look horrible, the huge concrete bases displace land and create more water run-off to create flooding, and the whirling blades do put off wildlife. Energy companies claim that it is only economical to erect them on a large scale, prefer land near to other development, and too expensive to erect them on brownfield sites or roofs in or near cities and towns, so it is always the open countryside that suffers.

I would rather that we each generated more of our own energy for our own homes and businesses through having our own wind turbine (much smaller), water turbine, solar panels or photovoltaic tiles, but biggest of all - being more careful in our use of energy and cutting back on electrical appliances that we don't really need. Our rural landscape is the most important part of Britain, and if we just let companies put up wind turbines wherever it is cheapest for them then we will end up with a landscape full of old, broken turbines, flooding and no electricity anyway when they move on to the next big profit. Farmers who sell land to the energy companies receive about £10000 per acre, so it is lucrative for them to not care about their local community.

[eleanor2]

i would love to have my own solar power and wind turbine one day.i do think we need to start thinking about green sustainable fuels.i cant help thinking what the landscape must have looked like when there were the wooden windmills all over the country.there is a little glassworks near us.they have somehow managed to get permission for 2 massive wind turbines.right on the main road.no-one seems to have bothered at all.

[jazzactivist]

Just before we left the village that we lived in in Scotland local villages had joined together to fight off a massive 200 turbine windfarm that was going to cover the hills and line the motorway in what is the only attractive rural part left in that ex-industrial area. Further along in Dumfries and Galloway there were 6 on a hill and then another group of 14 and they didn't intrude too much, but as the energy companies get knocked back for the large ones they just try elsewhere. Once they have built some the law states that they can make further applications to extend the site without having to go through a public consultation, as they have already done it for the first group!

I look at all the roof space in cities and towns and wonder why turbines and panels can't be erected on that to provide electricity for those areas. My BIL and his family live in a house where their electricity is provided by solar panels on the school roof. The school and all of the houses imemdiately next to it were offered this option to try out and it has been working very well for the past 10 years and their electricity only costs £10 per month - paid to the school. I would like to see more of this type of development.

[Gentian]

I'm not against them but on the other hand there are no in my back garden or I might have a different opinion.

[eleanor2]

that sounds brilliant jazz.i would love to see these things happening around here.my son is an electrician for eon.he did an advanced apprenticeship.i keep telling him as soon as we can afford he has to start researching the best ways to produce green electricity.have you seen the canal barges that have thier own little turbines to produce a bit of electricity.

[Crocus]

Our country has quite a lot of serious problems at the moment, not having enough energy.
The "wind was born" here where we live, and having the sea close by, wind turbines would actually be an advantage. Problem is the costs to put these wind turbines up. Personally I don't have any problem with wind turbines as I think it can only be an advantage, as the supply of energy is quite a huge problem here. Probably this is something which had to be thought about a number of years ago before all the problems started. In the meantime Eskom is planning a new nucleur power station not to far from where we live and we're not at all happy about it. Protests, meetings, action campaigns etc. by environmental groups. are held on an ongoing basis against this nucleur plant.

Friends of ours are very much involved in this campaign against this, so we'll see.

[jazzactivist]

Quite a lot of electricity can be produced by those small wind turbines on caravans and narrow boats, and you can even get small single panels for lights for your shed or outbuildings now. The big companies produce research that tells us that home units won't produce enough electricity for the needs of an average family home. However, that isn't true, and they are just saying that to keep us dependent on their supply. A friend of mine has a house that is entirely powered by three large solar units on her roof and she never runs out of electricity and, in fact, sells some back to the power company although they only pay her a fraction of what they pay big producers. Fair enough, she has adapted her home to use less energy eg replacing the bath with a shower and getting rid of the dishwasher, lights on timed units etc., but her family don't feel any loss at all.

I am also interested in the idea of water harvesting, since we have so much rain in the UK and water rates are quite high in England, but here in Cumbria if you harvest your own water from your roof to use in toilets and washing machines, even using a filter unit, you have to pay about £400 for testing by the Local Authority every 6 months! It seems very unfair that people who want to 'go green' for themselves have to pay a high price for it. I think that this is just a way to put the brakes on people going it alone and showing that you don't need to be dependent on the big companies. I think that we should just think more creatively for ourselves and not wait for others to some up with the solutions.

[dragonfly]

I agree with wind turbines but not near communities as they are unsightly and noisy. I would love a small one on my house so that I am not dependant on the large companies. Regardless of cost they should put the large turbines where they will cause the least nuisance to people and animals like out at sea, as the strongest winds are there anyway.

[SeaShore]

Hi everyone,

A bizarre thing happened today. After posting this thread, I went to the shops to get some stationary and the man behind me started loudly reading the front page of the County Press - which is the island paper. What should be on it, but a article regarding the turbines and what should happen if they were turned down. I mumbled something about it being rather a controversial issue (as he was making his opinions heard by all), which was mistake as he then continued his loud conversation with me (before he was apparently talking to himself). It quickly became clear that he was quite mad, but he did have a very passionate view about the whole thing! Perhaps he occasionally logs onto Rural Muse and saw this thread?

Anyway, after seeing what all of you think, I have realised that actually I am not very clued up on the subject all all. But one thing I do know is that I DO want to live more sustainably. I am going to seriously look at ways to become more self sufficient, ie perhaps creating a well in the garden so we can have a source of water or solar energy/wind turbines for the garden. Being so high up and near he coast we have plenty of wind and sun!!!

Maybe this whole wind turbine question will serve us in that people are becoming engaged in the debate about sustainable energy and (hopefully) will each do their bit in help the planet and look at different ways to fuel their homes/lives.

[Crocus]

Wind turbines are quite a controversial subject, so to speak. Many people are for it, and many are against it. Both sides I think have it pros and cons and it probably depends on one's viewpoint and the circumstances. Personally I'm for it, especially in the country where I live, but can see the problems it might bring about as far as animals and open countryside are concerned. Animals I think might get used to it with time. As far as the countryside is concerned, if one thinks about the advantages it can have, then perhaps one can get used to that as well. I think I would rather have wind turbines around than a nucleur plant almost on my doorstep.

In Africa one can only dream of wind turbines. That way of thinking doesn't exist in Africa, as governments primarily look at survival and social transformation than trying to do it's bit for the planet. Their way of thinking don't reach as far as saving the planet, unfortunately.

[cindy]

I live on the coast and there is a wind farm in the North Sea near us, there was a lot of talk about damaging the sea bed but I think that was sorted. Now there are plans to build an enormous one of the coast near Ramsgate. It seems to me that this is much less controversial, they don't really spoil the view and there is no noise to be heard. Shipping lanes have to avoided of course.

[eleanor2]

this thread has given me a good idea.we are having a new shed built up in laws soon.a large one.they can feel so dingy just by being cold.yet i want this shed to be like my little garden workshed and welly and garden coat storage etc.so a little windmill that wil keep a little airing heater going will be a good idea.must discuss it with son.i have just thought as well.it would proably power a light so we didnt have to run electricity too it.mmmmm

[SeaShore]

What a great idea, Eleanor2!! The idea of powering a whole home by wind/water/sun can feel almost daunting at first, as if you don't know where to start, but to take a step like powering a workshop/shed is the perfect move. That way you can see how it all works and then look at how it could be developed further.

[jazzactivist]

You can buy a solar shed light that is powered by a small solar panel for £19.99, eleanor. The light is quite powerful. The small turbine should be enough to power any tools etc that you use, so long as you aren't running a major workshop. Looking out of the window now I can see our neighbour's one on the shed roof, as it has a blue light on it. The blades do freeze in winter though, so at night put a woolly sock over it or something!
When we move from here I am hoping to have a small silversmithing studio in the garden and power it with solar lighting and a small wind turbine too.

[eleanor2]

i will be discussing it with son and get him to look into it.theres nothing worse than cold dark sheds.i first discussed it with son when we were thinking of having a caravan up inlaws .so we had a base near the garden and garage.i asked son then about a windmill to keep a little airing heater going all the time.thats what we will do if we have a caravan i think.

[Primrose]

Hi alll!

I am really interested in this, however, issues around our daughter and her care has now taken up nearly a year. So.....

Just to say they tried to get 6 turbines near us - not even a windy location. Public meetings, etc and one of which we attended so that we were informed although it was not directly in 'our back yard'. Quite sensibly they were turned down. They had to be so high to be efficient - higher than Salsibury Cathedral was quoted. Maps were used of the area and they were old maps -one house who would be very near who were not even on the maps would be offered black out curtains. The point was they apparantly did B & B which also included riding stables and part of the attraction was their locality for holiday trade.

What do I see in our local paper they are on again! It seems the determination is there and something to do with the European government?? So even if not econimically viable they are still trying to be forced through.

I just wish I had more time to take an interest in this but our daughter's health comes first.

P.S. I am not against them as long as they are viable and in areas that work. Locally there are some 'downs' used by hang gliders and wind turbines would work up there. I think the land may belong to the NT not sure but if it was they could surely reap the benefits of the income? There would be no houses to be affected and it is maintained they do not disturb livestock??

[jazzactivist]

There is an application here in the Lakes for wind turbines actually on Bassenthwaite Lake. This lake is just west of Keswick in a very beautiful area and some of the turbines will be close to the shore affecting the look of the lake and the villages that rely on tourism around it. Like your local application, it is also on / off / on / off, primrose, but each time the application gains more power as Planning Depts get fed up with looking at it. The latest argument is that there are plenty of other lakes to look at! When I attended meetings about a windfarm near our previous village there were some people there whose isolated houses would be 50 yards from a turbine and they were told that they would be offered black out curtains and ear plugs. What a way to expect people to live!

The thing is that wind farms are not owned by nice, cosy, environmental organisations, but by big power companies and the intention for them is to make money for their shareholders rather than support eco-tecnology. Despite what they say, the clues to their real intentions is in what they do, and disregarding peoples needs in rural communities and isolated houses and wanting to site turbines in naturally beautiful areas just because there is lots of space for the infrastructure around them shows exactly what is really in ther minds.

I am in favour of different types of more environmental energy production, but not at the expense of our natural surroundings and people's lives and livelihoods. There are lots of different ways to produce your own energy without ruining anything and technology is developing all the time. I read in the weekend paper about a teenager in India who has just invented a new tiny solar electricity panel that uses human hair as its heat collector and transformer and produces enough electricity for a whole house. I think that these big turbines are now clunky and old-fashioned and if governments wait a couple of years they wouldn't be needed at all. What about when technology moves on and we are left with a landscape full of disused, broken old wind turbines? We can be sure that the companies that put them up there won't be removing and recycling them.