Holderness residents opposing wind farms in the area have been dealt another blow with news that a nine-turbine development will go to appeal. The wind farm proposed for Sunderland Farm was rejected by councillors in August even though officers recommended approval. Applicant Renewable Energy Systems (RES) is to take its application to a Government-appointed planning inspector who has the authority to overturn the decision.

Big name backing has come forward in opposition to two proposed wind farms at Spaldington who claim the turbines would be "visually horrific, inappropriate and ineffective". Throwing their weight behind the STOP (Spaldington Turbines Opposition Project) group is not only Howden and Haltemprice MP David Davies but MEP Godfrey Bloom and international best-selling author Frederick Forsyth. ...David Davis told the Courier this week: "Both of these proposed wind farms would seriously blight the lives of people who live nearby.

Britain's only listed wind turbine manufacturer today revealed it could be taken over by the end of the year. ..."Based on transaction size and structure, the new capital provider could range from owning a substantial minority position to acquiring the entire company.

The first major UK hydro project to be completed in 50 years, Glendoe was closed less than two months after the Queen officially opened the 100-megawatt station at the end of June. Yesterday, Perth-based SSE said investigations showed that the rock fall, in a tunnel carrying water between the reservoir and the power station, was "very substantial". ...SSE also confirmed the Greater Gabbard wind farm in the Thames Estuary had been hit after faulty welding was discovered on the turbines.

Two Derbyshire councils are formally objecting against plans for a wind farm on the edge of the Peak District. Derbyshire Wind Energy, a subsidiary of West Coast Energy, wants to build three 126-metre turbines on Matlock Moor, overlooking the Derwent Valley close to Chatsworth House and the national park boundary. Opponents fear it will harm the landscape and deter tourists from the area.

An inspector was due to hear an appeal against the rejection by North Lincolnshire Council for a seven turbine plan for Flixborough Grange on Tuesday. But the planning inspectorate has said the matter now needs to go to a full public inquiry because of complicated issues and the number of people who were likely to come along. No date has been set.

The latest high-profile battle between wind farm developers and East Riding Council will begin tomorrow. A public inquiry will take place after energy giant Eon launched an appeal challenging the decision by councillors to throw out plans for the controversial Tedder Hill development at Roos, near Withernsea.

Giant electricity generator npower renewables is set to let a Government planning inspector decide whether a wind farm of eight 400-feet high turbines should be allowed to dominate the south Huntingdonshire landscape. Planners at Huntingdonshire District Council asked the company last December to withdraw the proposal and come back with a scaled-down plan. But the subsidiary of multi-national power giant RWE has refused.

Wind turbine memorial. Illustration: Rob Biddulph Imagine that at the flick of a switch, you could not only turn a light on or off but select which power source you were going to use. Would an eco warrior choose wind power or coal? Surely this is a no-brainer. Not necessarily.

The Queen's property manager, the Crown Estate, will next week update the industry on the auction of offshore windpower rights that could generate billions of pounds for the Crown from up to 7,000 turbines around the coast. For months the Crown Estate has been negotiating with dozens of companies for 20-year leases to operate wind turbines in nine areas.

Wind farms can reduce bird numbers by up to half, according to a new study by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, that raises questions about the charity's support of the new technology. ...It suggested that the most likely cause of the decline is the fact that birds are less likely to live near wind farms because of the noise and development.

Faulty wind turbines could remain at a Northumberland beauty spot for another year if a new planning application is approved. The three giant structures at Kirkheaton, north of Hexham, were put up almost 10 years ago by EDF Energy. But technical issues meant that two of the turbines had to have their blades removed, and only one of the three has been operating since last autumn.

The RSPB Scotland study looked at 12 operating upland wind farms in the UK and found that numbers of several birds of high conservation concern are reduced close to the turbines. Affected birds include the hen harrier and golden plover, which are protected under European law, and the curlew, which is a high-priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The MP for Mid Worcestershire has called for a ban on commercial wind turbines being constructed within a kilometre of people's homes. ...Speaking after visiting a public exhibition organised by Scottish Power Renewables at Norton and Lenchwick parish hall, the Conservative MP said: "These are effectively 40-storey high structures in open countryside - they must be a reasonable distance from homes.

A campaign group has said plans for eight turbines near a small village could lead to a "scar on the landscape." The comments were made by John Temple, co-ordinator of new pressure group Protect Winwick which has been set up by residents to oppose proposals from energy company E.on to put up eight 126-metre high turbines near to the small village.

A handful of US infrastructure funds are understood to be in the final shake-out to buy wind farm assets being sold by SWS, the Cork-based energy and business services group. The potential suitors are vying to acquire SWS's 180 megawatts of operating wind farm assets around the island of Ireland. Bidding for these assets is believed to be running north of €400m, including the assumption of debt attached to the projects.

This week, Mrs Eyre reflected on how life has changed on the slopes of Toddleburn. "It is truly tragic that we are being driven from an area we have loved for its natural beauty and from a community we have supported through school, church, toddlers group and the WRI. "Notwithstanding the enormous visual impact, for the past 18 months our peaceful existence has been shattered by living on the path of the construction of the Toddleburn wind farm.

Scottish ministers have rejected an appeal for planning permission for a 16-turbine wind farm on a hill directly opposite Rothesay Bay. Over five months after the end of a public inquiry - which took place in April at Colintraive Hall - ministers agreed with the findings of reporter Karen Heywood that the project would have a "significant detrimental landscape and visual impact" on the area.

Plans to build three 126-metre wind turbines at Matlock Moor have been opposed by NE Derbyshire District councillors. The application was considered by the authority's Planning Committee on Tuesday, when members voted 14 to three against the scheme submitted by Derbyshire Wind Energy. It comes as Derbyshire Dales District councillors ...also ruled to oppose the scheme yesterday.

A controversial windfarm plan for Orby Marsh looks set to be back on the agenda as farmer Mark Caudwell begins proceedings for a third time. Mr Caudwell first submitted plans to build a 20-turbine onshore windfarm in 2003, but it was rejected at a public inquiry because of fears it would 'urbanise' the landscape.