Region lagging behind on green energy

Jan 17 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

NORTHUMBERLAND is lagging behind its neighbour Durham in terms of renewable energy production, a public inquiry was told yesterday.

Steadings Wind Farm Ltd (SWFL), which is seeking to erect 21 turbines at Kirkwhelpington in Tynedale, also told the hearing that the North-East was among the worst regions in the country in these terms.

And the company insisted that Northumberland and the North-East are struggling to meet renewable energy targets and will not be able to do so without approval of its scheme.

SWFL also claimed most people are well disposed to wind farms, despite local opposition to its project, and hit out at those who object on aviation grounds, insisting aircraft are among the biggest generators of greenhouse gas emissions.

The company was speaking on the second day of a three-month public inquiry into its proposals and those of Wind Prospect Developments Ltd for 18 60m turbines at Green Rigg Fell, Birtley, and Amec Project Investments Ltd’s for 20 125m structures at the Ray Estate. Stewart Provan, planning expert for SWFL’s parent company Banks Developments, told planning inspector David Rose: “The North-East region is generally performing poorly relative to other areas of the country and has a long way to go to meet targets.”

Mr Provan added: “The introduction of wind turbines into a landscape, by their very nature, will inevitably result in significant effects.

“I note that whether a person viewing the wind farm regards the change to be positive or negative will be a subjective judgment and I note that elsewhere in my evidence I highlight the findings of extensive research which seems to demonstrate that people are generally well disposed towards wind turbines.”

On the subject of aviation objections – on the basis of the effect of turbines on radars – Mr Provan said these have been imprecisely made by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Newcastle Airport and the group NATS (En Route) and that all efforts by the applicants to clarify the grounds of opposition had met with no substantive response.

He added: “I note that the aviation industry is widely recognised as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and a growing cause for concern.”

Anthony Crean, speaking for objector Tynedale Council, later insisted the renewable energy targets for Northumberland had been drawn up before the MoD had raised objections to all three schemes.

He argued the targets should be given less weight if the MoD’s position is upheld.

The hearing at Newcastle Airport’s Britannia Hotel came about as the Ray and Steadings schemes are too big to be determined at local level.

The Green Rigg project is being determined alongside following Tynedale’s failure to determine it within planning timescales.