Article
Wind Turbines Could be Taller
Isle of Wight County Press|Ross Findon|April 8, 2006
TURBINES proposed for Wellow could be metres higher than expected, a wind energy company revealed this week.
TURBINES proposed for Wellow could be metres higher than expected, a wind energy company revealed this week.
In a document submitted to the IW Council and opponents ThWART, Your Energy, which hopes to erect six turbines in Wellow, said two turbines might be higher than initiatially expected.
However, Your Energy director Richard Mardon said the decision to include plans for two turbines up to 116m high — ten metres higher than the four others — was made on aesthetic grounds.
However, Your Energy director Richard Mardon said the decision to include plans for two turbines up to 116m high — ten metres higher than the four others — was made on aesthetic grounds.
Mr Mardon said the increased size was needed because of a dip in the land where the proposed turbines would be.
Although the two turbines would be taller than the others, this would be necessary to make them appear level with the others.
"Our project is now entering the final stages and we hope to submit plans before the summer.
"Because of the long duration of the project, we …
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"Because of the long duration of the project, we …
In a document submitted to the IW Council and opponents ThWART, Your Energy, which hopes to erect six turbines in Wellow, said two turbines might be higher than initiatially expected.
However, Your Energy director Richard Mardon said the decision to include plans for two turbines up to 116m high — ten metres higher than the four others — was made on aesthetic grounds.
However, Your Energy director Richard Mardon said the decision to include plans for two turbines up to 116m high — ten metres higher than the four others — was made on aesthetic grounds.
Mr Mardon said the increased size was needed because of a dip in the land where the proposed turbines would be.
Although the two turbines would be taller than the others, this would be necessary to make them appear level with the others.
"Our project is now entering the final stages and we hope to submit plans before the summer.
"Because of the long duration of the project, we decided it was prudent to issue a report to gauge opinions," he said.
"Because of the long duration of the project, we decided it was prudent to issue a report to gauge opinions," he said.
Mr Mardon also disputed a claim by The Wight Against Rural Turbines (ThWART) that the turbines would provide only one per cent of the Island's energy needs.
"I would question that figure because our projection is that they would provide energy for 8,500 households, around 12 per cent of the Island," said Mr Mardon.
Ray Tucker, ThWART spokesman, said the increase in size of the turbines was astonishing.
"The six moving, distracting structures would reach almost as high above sea level as Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower.
"If this development was allowed to go ahead, the Wight's Garden Isle landscape and its crucial tourist industry would suffer even more than previous proposals," said Mr Tucker.