http://www.windaction.org/ facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts en-us Windaction hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.windaction.org/articles/320 GMT http://www.windaction.org/articles/320 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24142 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:07:52 GMT The Government says it wants to cut the red tape and expense involved in generating energy from wind, and insists the new rules will come with strict conditions about noise, size and appearance. But rural campaigners said the changes to the planning system could lead to a 'free-for-all' and warned that the countryside was in danger of being sacrificed in the battle against global warming. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24142 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24137 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:29:16 GMT Magnificent views enjoyed by visitors to an award-winning North East holiday complex would be ruined by plans to build four massive wind turbines nearby, it is claimed. Businessman Alun Moore has invested about £2m over the last 20 years in developing his Beacon Hill holiday centre, 15 self-catering cottages and a luxury spa on a hilltop north west of Morpeth. ...But now Mr Moore fears his business, which employs 14 people locally, will suffer badly if plans by Novera Energy to erect four 101m turbines at nearby Todd Hill, Pigdon, are given the go-ahead. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24137 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23714 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:47:40 GMT An East Yorkshire resident is calling for a change in the law so new wind turbines cannot be built near homes Currently there is no minimum separation distance between homes and the structures, but company director Larry Fleming, from Spaldington, near Goole, wants a 2km limit. Villagers are fighting proposals by two separate developers for 14 turbines standing 400ft tall, three times higher than Howden Minster. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23714 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23705 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:29:41 GMT John Prescott, the former Deputy Prime Minister, will today launch a ferocious attack on the "landowners and nimbys" who he says are holding up the installation of wind farms across Britain and thus hindering the fight against climate change. In unashamed class-warrior style, Mr Prescott lashes out at opponents of windpower who successfully block planning applications for wind turbines because they may spoil their "chocolate box view". http://www.windaction.org/articles/23705 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23454 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:52:56 GMT Planning officials have suspended a proposal to build a wind farm between two Lincolnshire villages. Enertrag UK has been asked to provide more information about its plans for eight 125-metre turbines at Baumber and Wispington, near Horncastle. East Lindsey District Council will allow the application to continue through the planning process if the energy company can show how its project will affect nearby residents. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23454 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23289 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:53:10 GMT 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. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23289 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23271 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:14:49 GMT The MP for Mid Worcestershire has called for a ban on commercial wind turbines being constructed within a kilometre of people's homes. Peter Luff said proposals for a wind farm close to Bishampton, near Pershore, would see some turbines located little more than 600 metres away from houses. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23271 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23199 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:46:29 GMT Families fighting plans to erect four giant wind turbines in their rural Northumberland community have taken their protest campaign into the skies. They are flying a large orange blimp at a height of 101 metres above the proposed site of the wind farm near Morpeth in a bid to show local people and council planners the likely impact of the installation on the landscape and homes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23199 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23191 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:33:33 GMT Residents protesting against plans for a wind farm near Dumsurn say they are alarmed by results from a recent report which claims living close to turbines can lead to a greater risk of several health problems. The application for the proposed wind farm in the North Sperrins is for seven turbines, each 121 metres tall ...Members of the Roe Valley Anti Wind Farm Group are determined to fight the proposal and say they will take legal action if they have to. They argue there are too many wind farms in the area and that "enough is enough". http://www.windaction.org/articles/23191 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23159 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:50:42 GMT Free satellite dishes have been offered to an entire village next to a windfarm because the turbines are disrupting their television viewing. Villagers in Gransmoor started experiencing problems with their television signal shortly after 12 windturbines, which stand 125 metres tall including their blades, were put up at Lissett Airfield. Novera Energy informed villagers before the development they could experience some disruption to the signal and that the firm was happy to install a Free-Sat System to every household experiencing problems. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23159 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23134 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:58:23 GMT Jane Davis and her husband Julian from Deeping, St Nicholas live less than 1,000 metres from a huge wind farm that was built three years ago. The couple say the noise from the eight 330 ft (100m) turbines keeps them awake at night and has forced them to move into rented accommodation. In an effort to have the turbines switched off at night or even taken down altogether the couple are planning to take the developers, landowners and operators to the High Court. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23134 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23148 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:48:20 GMT Residents living near a new wind turbine say it sounds like a 'steam train' day and night. The windmill sited at Intec (UK) Ltd on Penrod Way, Heysham, has only recently been turned on to full capacity and then it became apparent that the noise for neighbouring properties was, according to residents, 'torture'. ..."The company's management arranged for the installers to make adjustments ...It was hoped that that this may have reduced the problem, but residents so far do not find this to be the case. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23148 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23090 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:27:36 GMT Residents of a medieval hamlet are hoping councillors will help them fight a controversial wind farm plan next week. On Wednesday Durham County Council cabinet members will be asked to designate Bolam as a Conservation Area. Their plan could see the council forced to go up against energy company nPower Renewables, who want to build six wind turbines just outside Bolam, near West Auckland. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23090 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23015 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:39:34 GMT The creation of the non-elected body, arguably the most powerful quango ever, comes as the Government insists that a greater take-up of renewable power is essential in the battle against climate change and improving energy security. Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband has warned that communities in the Westcountry have "no option" but to support a massive expansion of onshore turbines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23015 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22935 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:13:43 GMT Demand for power from homes and businesses will exceed supply from the national grid within eight years, according to official figures. The shortage of supplies will hit the equivalent of many as 16 million families for at least one hour during the year, it is forecast. Not since the early 1970s when the three-day week was introduced to preserve coal has Britain faced the prospect of reationing energy use. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22935 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22812 Sun, 23 Aug 2009 07:55:01 GMT Ministers are considering whether to establish a "conservation bank" to help overcome planning objections to wind farms and other renewable-energy projects. Planning problems have held back British onshore wind farms. Vestas blamed nimby (not in my back yard) objections for its recent decision to shut Britain's only wind-turbine plant, on the Isle of Wight (see panel below). Vestas and other energy groups say planning delays and uncertainties make it riskier to invest in Britain than in other countries. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22812 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22620 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:32:53 GMT A long-running campaign to build a wind turbine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn has been dealt another blow by councillors. The latest application to build an 80m turbine in the hospital grounds has been refused by West Norfolk's development control board ...This is the second planning application for the turbine which has been turned down. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22620 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22585 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:52:01 GMT People living close to windfarms in Powys could face a health risk as campaigners claim turbines are being built too close to people's homes. It comes as Powys County Council is expected to receive planning applications for more than 500 wind turbines. Campaign group Cadwriaeth Ucheldir Powys say studies have revealed many householders living near turbines suffer headaches, sleep deprivation and dizziness. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22585 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22468 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:14:59 GMT Dr Nina Pierpoint has warned that living too close to wind turbines can cause heart disease, tinnitus, vertigo, panic attacks, migraines and sleep deprivation in groundbreaking research due to be published later this year. ...To date, the Government and wind companies have denied any health risks associated with powerful noise and vibration produced by wind turbines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22468