'I'll Chain Myself To Turbine' - Bellamy

"The 27 turbines would be almost 400 feet high and the largest land turbine development in Europe."

This isn't true - near Tarifa in Andalucia, to quote just one for instance which I have seen myself, there is a huge, EC-funded windfarm project with literally hundreds of wind turbines taking advantage of the strong winds in the area, for as far as the eye can see.

We are in fact lagging behind many EC countries in wind farm electricity production - certainly several Scandanavian countries, Germany and Spain.

And I for one would rather see 1,000 wind turbines than one coal-powered station. They are, to me, testament to our commitment to reusable energy sources and therefore a joy to see.

One point though - why not put them all out to sea? Surely the winds are usable there too, and of course the issue of them being unsightly is instantly removed?

Posted: 05/07/2004 at 17:22

Actually Phil the figure given by Mike Hall is 1,728 wind turbines per one coal-fired station (and 945 to replace a single nuclear station).

Sadly you won't get your wish and get rid of the coal/nuclear station though as it will still be needed for back-up when the wind-speed falls below about 30mph, or above 50 mph.


Weigh that against the negative impact of building these power-stations in our countryside and wind energy necomes a lot less attractive.

You're right that it wouldn't be Europe's largest, just England's largest. The _original_ Whinash proposal of 40 turbines _would_ have made it Europe's largest.

Posted: 05/07/2004 at 18:11

Hmm I don't pretend to know all the ins ands outs of turbines , I know they spin and make magic but that's about it :0

However I must admit, with BNFL visible from Great Gable and Scafell pike and living nex to it I would prefer to see a huge bank of turbines than to see that.

I looked at the Winsash website with the click here to see the turbines pctures, and perhaps it's just me but I wasn't appalled at the image that appeared.

The best compromise for me would be to put them all out to see and if captain birdseye doesn't like them tough, we all want power but no one wants the bits that go with it.

Perhaps I am missing the point but surely as outdoorsy, right thinking, litter picking environmentaly aware people shouldn't we be supporting wind farms?

I don't mean putting them in the middle of our national parks but lets be reasonible here one huge coal or nuclear site or a bank of windfarms which lets face it don't look that bad, i don't think theres a choice.

but perhaps I've got it all wrong, go on someone educate me I'm open and listening

Posted: 05/07/2004 at 19:15