Myself and fellow members of Energise Stur Valley and Transition Town Sturminster Newton are concerned that the headlines in the Blackmore Vale Magazine this weekend gave a highly negative view towards Wind Turbines.
If only the voices of a small vocal minority are heard with substantial amounts of dis-information, then it would appear the process of Public Inquiry is itself under threat.
Energise Stur Valley, Transition Town Sturminster Newton and Dorset Energized are committed to helping to give good information to local people upon which they can make truly informed decisions about the way that we and Dorset should be developing renewable energy resources. We are keen to express the need for Community action and ownership of energy creating schemes whilst supporting in general principal the growth of all forms of renewable development.
The anti wind turbine brigade are well funded, totally committed to protecting their own backyards and irrational in their views. Old heresy is dredged up time and time again which have little truth and stop Dorset and this Country moving forward and making the very most of our natural resources.
So please listen to both sides, make your own decisions and don’t be lead by the Anti Brigade.
Here are just a few points that take up some of the dis-information and are far more informed:
1. The substantial wind resource in Dorset is not being utilised as described in the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy. There are no wind turbines larger than 20 kW currently installed in Dorset.
2. All surrounding counties (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Wiltshire) have multi MW turbines either already installed or with positive planning determinations.
3. In every survey of Dorset residents ever undertaken there has always been a majority in favour of large wind turbines (Dorset Citizens Panel questionnaires).
4. The representations against the application are motivated by concerns about visual impact, which is inevitably a big issue for those living closest to the proposed turbines but it must be remembered that they are a minority within the district.
5. The majority in favour of the application tend to be less motivated to voice their opinion and in some cases feel bullied to remain silent such is the robustness by which every comment of theirs is countered (as we have even seen on the comments on this very blog!).
6. There is much misinformation being repeated by objectors to the application and reported in the local media.
7. Statements made about the proposed turbines being inefficient, Ecotricity being financially unstable, the concrete to be used affecting the water table and emitting more CO2 than the turbines save, are not correct.
For more information on Wind Power see our page on:
www.dorsetenergized.co.uk/energy/wind-power
