Credit: George Wood fifewindfarms.org.uk
Some interesting opinions questioning whether wind turbines do reduce CO2 emissions by George Wood, a former National Grid Power Systems Operations Engineer at both Regional and National Control Centres.
Credit: Fiona Harvey, The Guardian, 15/05/12
"Government plans to reform the electricity market to favour low-carbon power are "unworkable" and will lead to "a train wreck" in the sector, and higher and more volatile energy prices for consumers, according to a group of the UK's leading renewable energy companies."
It would appear that wind farm companies are unhappy with the intended reforms, which will make new developments 'far more risky and expensive'. Developers would prefer to see Feed in Tariffs extended to wind farms to guarantee a price for the generated electricity.
West Kirkcarswell 1 x 79m has been deemed as a non-determination which means D & G council have run out of time to make a decision.
The applicant is now appealing to the Scottish Government for a decision.
So far this year we have seen appeals to the Scottish Government for:-
Culnaightrie (non determination) 1 x 75m REFUSED
Trostrie (non determination) 1 x 53.5 AWAITING DECISION
Cambret hill (non determination) 1 x 45m AWAITING DECISION
West Kirkcarswell (non determination) 1 x 79m AWAITING DECISION
Barnbackle (refused by council) 2 x 100m AWAITING DECISION
Doon Hill (refused by council) 2 x 100m AWAITING DECISION
Galtway Hill (refused by council) 2 x 100m AWAITING DECISION
Pattiesthorn mast (Benshinnie) (refused by council) AWAITING DECISION
OPEN FOR COMMENT
Lennox Plunton, Borgue 12/P/2/0005 1 x 18.5m
Lennox Plunton, Borgue 12/P/2/0006 1 x 18.5m
Standingstones, Auchencairn 12/P/2/0117 3 x 17.5m
Closing date is unclear as the advert said the 10th May which was the day it was advertised. Therefore the applications need to be re-advertised by the council (possibly next week) which would mean a closing date of 31st May!
Auchenlosh, Dalbeattie 12/P/2/0122 2 x47m & 1 x 40m mast
28 days to comment until 7th June 2012
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Lochhill Farm, Crossmichael 12/P/2/0141 1 x 18.61m
SCOPING APPLICATIONS
Corra Farm, Kirkgunzeon 12/E/2/0018 1 x 78m
Meikle Culloch, Dalbeattie 12/E/2/0017 1 x 80m
Stranoch, New Luce 12/E/1/0022 50 x ?
LATEST NEWS!
The recent decision by the Planning Application Committee to refuse permission for 2 x 100m turbines at Galtway Hill, Kirkcudbright, is now being challenged by the applicant with an appeal lodged with the Scottish Government.
Open for Comment
Kirkbride Hill, Gatehouse of Fleet until 10/05/12
Click here for link to documents on D & G website
Planning Applications
Auchenlosh, Dalbeattie 12/P/2/0122 2 x 47m turbines + 1 x 40m met mast
Standingstones, Auchencairn 12/P/2/0117 3 x 17.75m turbines
Scoping Applications
Logan Botanic Gardens 12/E/2/0027 1 x 27m turbine
No decisions this week
Last week I had a rant about Patrick Harvey's comments on Newsnight Scotland (scroll down to Edinburgh March).
It now appears that CATS (Communities Against Turbines Scotland) have complained to Alex Salmond and other ministers about Mr Harvey's loutish behaviour in relation to an incident which is alleged to have occurred as Donald Trump left the Energy, Economic and Tourism Committee after giving evidence last week.
Mr Harvey apparently, flashed a two finger sign towards Mr Trump as he left the room. You may recall it was Mr Harvey who was reportedly showing an anti Donald Trump video in the Scottish Parliament the night before Mr Trump was due to give evidence.
A Green party spokesmans said of the two finger incident ”I wasn’t in the room at the time. I do, however, understand Patrick asked Mr Trump about the famous V sign he makes wherever he goes.
”It’s possible while attempting to copy Mr Trump he got it the wrong way round.”
Mr Harvey has also posted religious imagery 'lampooning' Mr Trump on Twitter and Facebook. Graham Lang from Fife on behalf of CATS said "We find this gratuitous material deeply offensive. We do not believe it remotely acceptable that an MSP should post such an image or that MSP who sits on that committee to originate and circulate this kind of material targeted at a witness.”
Whether you love or loathe Mr Trump, you have to question the actions of Mr Harvey and his "appalling lack of decorum and respect for an invited guest.”
To read the full article click here
One has to question the purpose of this whole inquiry though, as it would appear to be biased in it's outcome before any evidence was even heard. Isn't this just another waste of taxpayers money with yet another committee 'going through the motions' ?
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) says its groups feel "powerless in the face of speculative applications from big, well-funded developers".
Some 1,800 wind turbines more than 30 metres tall (100ft) are currently planned in England.
An industry spokesman said restrictions would put green energy targets at risk.
Clcik here to read the BBC report or here for a version from Yahoo
Planning Applications
Kirkbride Hill, Gatehouse 12/P/2/012 2 x 46.5m Now open for comments until 10/05/12
Scoping Applications
Auchenlosh landfill site 12/E/2/0018 2 x 47m turbines + 1 x 40m mast (to replace scoping for 1 x 74m turbine??)
Meikle Culloch, Dalbeattie 12/E/2/0017 1 x 80m turbine
Approved this week
Colt Cottage, Borgue 11/P/2/0409 1 x 19.36m turbine
REFUSED
Blackmyre Moor 1 x 90m met mast on the grounds that according to the IPP the landscape is unsuitable for structures of this height.
Good news that some of our councillors are showing their support for the Interim Planning Policy as it was refused on a count of 9 – 4!
Some of the D & G protestors taken by Delya Wilkinson
It was an early start but fortunately the predicted rain held off until the protest was over. Over 300 people turned up from all over Scotland to vent their anger and frustration over the proliferation of turbine applications across the country.
Keith enjoying the bagpipes by Rae Leigh
Pro-wind protestors turned up to add to the general excitement of Donald Trump appearing before the Energy, Economics and Tourism Committee. Free T-shirts were offered to the first 50 protestors, so if anybody would like a WIGS (Wind is Good Scotland) T-shirt please contact Friends of the Earth Scotland as there will be quite a few left over!
Thank you CATS (Communities Against Turbines Scotland) for organising this rally and to all those from D & G who came (especially the very early starters from Port Patrick and Creetown and the people who offered lifts to others!) I think a good time was had by all.
PATRICK HARVEY MSP - NEWSNIGHT 25/04/12
Patrick Harvie SNP is sitting on the Energy, Economics and Tourism Committee and with 5 SNP MSP's out of 9 panel members I think the conclusion was decided before any evidence was even presented.
I watched Mr Harvie on the Newsnight Scotland program and his dismissive attitude that the turbines that could be located near to Donald Trump's golf course would be no bigger on the horizon 'than the size of his thumb nail' clearly shows this man lacks integrity.
How anyone can state this on national TV knowing that the turbines could be up to 190m high and located just 1 mile from the coast, beggars belief and shows either a distinct lack of knowledge and/or any empathy for the local people who have to live with these monstrosities.
Rant over!
The proposed 75m (to tip) turbine for Culnaightrie, Auchencairn was referred to the Scottish Government after Dumfries and Galloway Council failed to determine the application in the allowed time.
The Reporter REFUSED the proposal due to the proximity of the intended location's impact on the archaeological remains and setting of Suie Hill Fort.
Applications submitted this week
Byecroft Farm, SW of Dumfries scoping opinion for 1 x 80m to tip turbine (12/E/2/0015)
Kirkbride Hill, Gatehouse of Fleet planning application for 2 x 46.5m (12/P/2/0121)
Stranoch, 5km north of Glen Luce, scoping opinion for up to 50 turbines (12/E/1/0022)
South Kyle Wind Farm scoping opinion – unknown number (12/E/2/0016)
Auchleand, Wigtownshire pre-application notice (14 x 130m) (12/N/1/0003)
planning applic to be submitted after at least 12 weeks
Approval of 2 x 70m met masts at Flow of Arriequhillart – unknown number of turbines but obviously a large site!
Credit: Simon Johnston, Scottish Political Editor, The Telegraph (17/04/12)
Green energy companies are resorting to methods that are “little short of bribery” to buy up swathes of Scotland’s countryside for new wind farms, the group representing walkers warned have MSPs.
Ramblers Scotland said the power firms are embroiled in a desperate race akin to the Klondike gold rush to develop as many sites as possible so they can take advantage of generous taxpayer subsidies.
But this has involved offering significant financial inducements to win the backing of local communities and safeguards in the planning system to protect sensitive areas being ignored, they argued.
A community leader also accused SNP ministers of failing to understand the concerns of rural communities and warned residents have been left powerless to stop a green energy policy driven by “targets and subsidies”.
Credit: Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent, The Telegraph (15/04/12)
Ministers are preparing to veto major new wind farms in the British countryside and cut back their subsidies, according to senior Government sources.
The decision to pull back from onshore wind farms comes after more than 100 backbench Conservative MPs mounted a rebellion against turbines blighting rural areas earlier this year.
Greg Barker, the Climate Change Minister, also said this weekend Britain has “the wind we need” either being built, developed or in planning.
“It’s about being balanced and sensible,” he said. “We inherited a policy from the last government which was unbalanced in favour of onshore wind. There have been some installations in insensitive or unsuitable locations – too close to houses, or in an area of outstanding natural beauty.”
Britain already has around 350 wind farms across the country, with around 500 already under construction or awaiting planning permission
We hear that Burcote Wind will be appealing the refusal of the Pattiesthorn met mast and have now applied to the council for a scoping opinion for the proposed wind farm.
A scoping opinion will detail the issues that need to be addressed within the Environmental Statement which is submitted with the planning application. These are likely to include landscape and visual impacts, noise, residential amenity, effects on birds and other wildlife, archaeology and hydrology to name just a few.
More bad news for Dumfries and Galloway with the announcement by Willowind for a
34MW wind farm with 15 x 125m high turbines near Lotus Hill, Beeswing
At this height, the tips of the blades will be level with the top of Lotus Hill itself.
It will be interesting to see if the number and height of turbines will remain the same for the final planning application or whether we will see a reduction due to 'community consultation'……
Credit: BBC News, South Scotland (23/03/12)
An 18-turbine wind farm in Wigtownshire has been approved by the Scottish government after being rejected by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Developer Gamesa Energy UK appealed against the decision about the scheme at Carscreugh Fell near Glenluce.
Councillors refused the bid last April due to concerns about its landscape, visual and archaeological impact.
A reporter to Scottish ministers has now ruled the proposals can proceed with a string of conditions.
Credit: Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor, The Telegraph, (20/03/12)
Scotland’s countryside will become a “wind farm landscape” as hundreds more turbines are built to meet the SNP’s radical green energy targets, the country’s most senior planning officials have warned.
In an extraordinary intervention, Heads of Planning Scotland (HoPS) has told MSPs that 10 per cent of Ayrshire, for example, has already been made available for development to renewable power companies.
With “less sensitive sites” reaching saturation point, they predicted public opposition will increase as more planning applications are made to build wind farms on “familiar” and fragile landscapes.
"The cumulative effects of additional wind farms will change an otherwise unaltered local landscape into a ‘wind farm’ landscape,” they concluded.
In its submission to the Holyrood inquiry, Scottish National Heritage (SNH) warned the proposals cannot be achieved without “significant effect” on the country’s natural environment and protection for species like the golden eagle.
Should all the pending planning applications be approved, it said the effect would be to “considerably extend” the visibility of wind farms across Scotland’s countryside by narrowing the “gaps” between separate developments.
Eon have submitted 2 planning applications for 80m anemometer masts on land to the south and the north of Loch Urr.
If you would like to object you'll have to be quick as the closing date is Thursday 22nd March at 4pm.
12/P/2/0065 land to south of Loch Urr – objections can be emailed to pe.stewartry.planning@dumgal.gov.uk
12/P/3/0067 land to north of Loch Urr – objections can be emailed to pe.nithsdale.planning@dumgal.gov.uk
This a sparsely populated area with few buildings and man made structures, quiet and secluded. The loch is frequently used by large numbers of over-wintering geese and apparently there are black grouse in the area.
Eon plan to locate up to 50 turbines which will completely surround this beautiful loch. This development will be approximately 4 miles from Blackcraig – as we keep saying once the developers get a foot in the door…..
It is hoped that a new campaign group will be set up soon to fight this proposal and anyone interested in wishing to be kept informed of this development should contact us and we will pass your details on.
I came across this stunning photo of Loch Urr taken by Walter Baxter who has kindly given us permission to use it.
Credit: Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor, The Telegraph, (13/03/12)
The SNP’s green energy revolution will create as little as 300 permanent jobs compared to the near-50,000 projected by Alex Salmond, an industry expert has warned MSPs.
Richard Marsh, a renewable power economist, said the First Minister and green energy companies are “greatly exaggerating” the supposed benefits of their plan for a new swathe of wind and wave farms.
While they insist that 48,600 jobs will be created by the end of the decade, he said the real number of long-term posts is more likely to be 1,100 but could be as low as 300.
He will tell Holyrood’s economy, energy and tourism committee tomorrow that the large difference is because the higher figure includes temporary construction jobs created while green energy projects are being installed.
However, these will disappear after the building work has been completed. Mr Marsh concluded that the large taxpayer subsidy paid to green power companies means the industry is actually harming the Scottish economy.
He said diverting public funding into the industry instead of projects where it would have more economic impact in effect means that every renewable power job costs 3.7 posts that would have arisen elsewhere.
Credit: Christopher D Hanning, (honorary consultant in sleep medicine) and Alun Evans, professor emeritus, Article published 8th March 2012 in the BMJ
A large body of evidence now exists to suggest that wind turbines disturb sleep and impair health at distances and external noise levels that are permitted in most jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom. Sleep disturbance may be a particular problem in children, and it may have important implications for public health. When seeking to generate renewable energy through wind, governments must ensure that the public will not suffer harm from additional ambient noise. Robust independent research into the health effects of existing wind farms is long overdue, as is an independent review of existing evidence and guidance on acceptable noise levels.
Credit: Christopher Booker, The Telegraph, (03/03/12)
Developers of wind farms offer ‘sweeteners’ to local communities, but they may be tiny compared to the revenues.
Please note for D & G, a framework has been agreed for developers to pay £5,000 per MW not £1,000 as in the article. To put it into context though let's look at the Mayfield development:-
20.4 MW at 30% capacity (as claimed in their Environmental Statement – though they also claim it could be 35% capacity!)
6.12MW x £800,000 pa from ROC's and electricity sales = £4.896 million pa x 25 years
TOTAL income of £122.4 million
Community benefit at £5,000 per MW is £102,000 pa
Over 25 years is equal to £2.55 million - approximately 2% of the total income at today's prices!
IN OUR EYES, COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS AN ADMISSION BY THE WIND FARM DEVELOPER OF THE ADVERSE IMPACT THESE INDUSTRIAL UNITS WILL HAVE ON THE LANDSCAPE AND RESIDENTIAL AMENTITY.
TW312 have been asked by several people what happened with the Interim Planning Policy (IPP).
The IPP was ratified by the Planning, Housing and Environmental Services Committee (PHES) on February 14th 2012.
Unfortunately for the people of Dumfries and Galloway, our suspicions proved correct and the final policy was indeed 'watered' down.
Our main concern was the alteration of 2 maps within the document headed 'Areas of Search' (maps 4 & 5 for those interested).
Huge areas marked in yellow have now been added including the sites of Mayfield, Barcloy Hill, Irelandton, etc.
Consultation with the team finalising the IPP revealed that they hoped the wording of the map headings could be 'tightened up' and strengthened before ratification. It was explained to us that the yellow areas on the map AREN'T actually 'Areas of Search' but areas that will be of limitted potential and any development must taken into account the advice given in the Landscape Capacity Study which underpins the IPP. The Landscape Capacity Study was produced by an independent professional landscape architect in conjunction with SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) and assesses the landscape characters within Dumfries and Galloway and their ability to absorb the size and scale of wind turbines for each type.
We suspected from attending Planning Application Committee meetings and comments made by some councillors, that (some) councillors thought these yellow areas were just new 'areas of search'. We requested that councillors were clearly informed at the ratification meeting, that this was not the case as the maps and headings were unclear and this point needed clarifying.
Keith emailed all 19 councillors on the PHES committee before the meeting and requested that they ask about these new additional 'Areas of Search'.
NOT ONE COUNCILLOR ASKED !
TW312 are currently thinking about how best to proceed but we are extremely disappointed that members of the public who raise valid concerns about such important and far reaching issues are being ignored by our elected representatives.
