Landmark ruling gives turbines the go-ahead

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Friday, May 08, 2009
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This is SouthWales

AN Assembly planning inspector has upheld an appeal by wind farm campaigners in a ruling likely to reverberate among local authorities.

Richard Poppleton gave approval for two 100-metre wind turbines at Mynydd y Gwrhyd, north of Pontardawe, citing legislation that commits the UK to scaling up renewable energy schemes.

His ruling ends a decade-long wrangle that had already been the subject of a previous appeal.

And its implications could well raise eyebrows at Swansea's Civic Centre, where planners are examining a highly controversial wind farm proposal for Mynydd y Gwair, north of the city.

Mr Poppleton said: "Given the targets now set out for 2020 and beyond, it is clear there will be an increasing demand for energy from renewable sources and existing moves in this direction have been slow to materialise.

"Hence I consider the need for such energy projects should be afforded significant weight."

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    by Clare, Mawr

    Tuesday, May 12 2009, 9:15AM

    “The decision is a sad example of how developers - even ones who claim to have community interests in mind - can use repeated applications and appeals to bulldoze their way through the planning system. So far as the relevance to other planning applications is concerned, I hope that Swansea Planning will be mindful also that Mynydd y Gwair is part of North Gower, an area that links the Gower AONB and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Also, don't dig up peat to erect turbines! Read the recent report on the subject by the John Muir Trust, which explains why the 'mitigation measures' that developers may be willing to agree to actually don't work. If our uplands are important as carbon sinks, then we should not be digging them up, destroying the very habitat we want to protect.”

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    by Chris, Lincs

    Sunday, May 10 2009, 10:27AM

    “If you can make a 410 feet tall structure 'Disappear' you would be a Wizard indeed. The 1,000 ton cement foundations they sit upon (1,600 tons here on the Fens, including piles) Will likely never be removed. The structures themselves, made of composite materials, are non renewable, and will present disposable problems, if built in large numbers. The movement of the Structures into remote rural locations, involves many large diesel burning vehicles (over 27, 000 vehicle movements, to build 6 Turbines, here on the Fens) along (often) narrow roads, flanked by listed buildings (some without foundations) Extra road building is often required, and Overhead Cables, and Sub Stations. The Structures themselves, often placed far too close to peoples homes, exposing them to VibroAucoustic (infrasound) problems, as well as Ice Throws, Light Flicker, and Breakage risks, with the Turbines themselves.....For this, you get only (typically) 2 MW of energy...but only at very high windspeeds. more normally, they will stand idle (but still draw energy themselves, from the grid) Or produce very much smaller amounts of energy. (because if the wind drops by a half, Wind energy drops by a cube...a half of a half of a half)
    I think, myself, inconsidered mass Windturbine Building, without protective legislation, will not serve any cause.”

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    by Chris, Swansea

    Saturday, May 09 2009, 2:45PM

    “An excellent result.

    This should now set a precedent for the planners as far as NPower Renewables Mynydd Y Gwair is concerned.

    Lets wait and see.”

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    by Wyck, Cwm Einion

    Saturday, May 09 2009, 2:42PM

    “The Tan 8 areas were set out in the belief that the proposed wind farms would significantly reduce Carbon emissions, namely by 860 grammes CO2 per Kwh. At the time this was the figure quoted by the British Wind Energy Association. It has since come to light that these figures were incorrect and, under pressure from the Advertising Standards Agency the BWEA was forced to halve this figure to a saving of 430 grammes per Kwh. Every wind farm application claims a big saving in the amount of carbon dioxide produced. This has been greatly exaggerated and the reduction in the carbon displacement figure is a significant admission of this.
    What this means is that the Tan 8 plans and all wind farm applications so far are based on a miscalculation. Furthermore wind farms will lead to a serious shortage of supply making a hasty switch to nuclear inevitable. So anyone who is against nuclear should be against erecting wind farms! The money that ought to be invested into better renewables, such as wave- and tidal power (which are presently too expensive, but could form a real solution) is simply siphoned off by the wind farm industry. There is no doubt in my mind that the development of wind farms will, in less than twenty years from now, be looked back upon as the mistake of the century.”

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    by M Farquhar, Swansea

    Saturday, May 09 2009, 12:00AM

    “They have to be white to be visible to air traffic. (birds may or may not have cottoned on to this depending on your viewpoint!) Camouflage was used in WW2 to hide equipment and facilities from camera planes. Yes they are a visible intrusion (just like any power station) and yes they only produce electricity when its windy and yes they need alternatives when they are inoperable (rather like when coal stations don't have coal to burn no?) but yes - they produce cheap, though highly subsidised, electricity. If those amongst us do not like our lifestyle or environmental cost then switch off. Please!”

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    by Hugh, Marina

    Friday, May 08 2009, 10:03PM

    “Wind power is obviously not on its own the solution to all our energy needs but , combined with solar, wave and water generated energy is part of the package of measures we will eventually have to adopt.
    'Conventional' sources ie coal, gas, oil and nuclear all depend on finite raw materials that will eventually be exhausted. And produce harmful byproducts, ie carbon emissions and waste products than cannot safely be disposed of.
    Surely the question we need to ask is do we embark on the process of embracing renewable energy sources now, or do we selfishly exhaust conventional fuel reserves now and leave it to future generations to sort out the mess?
    As we need to address how we cope with the current recession, it is arguable that public investment in a massive expansion of the renewable energy sector is the most positive investment we can make for the future.
    So far as the visual impact of windfarms is concerned the Welsh landscape has been blighted over the last couple of centuries by coal mining, slate quarrying , coniferous forestation, commons enclosure and agricultural policy.
    Many of those scars have been, or are in the process of being removed.
    Whilst windfarms have an undeniable visual impact during their working life , their removal afterwards will leave little long term damage.”

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    by geoff, mumbles

    Friday, May 08 2009, 8:30PM

    “i think wind turbines will be the best option for wales as it is only around ten years before for the strict target for renewable sources set by government for 2020.we have some of the strongest winds in britain coming off the atlantic across wales so lets make the most of them”

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    by sad day, swansea

    Friday, May 08 2009, 7:28PM

    “SHOCK!HORROR!MAD!What words describe this Disgusting decision.Are Inspectors independent or Political pawns for the Assembly?Say GOODBYE to Beautiful Wales if his reasons for approval of this scheme are used in other cases.”

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    by Phil, west cross

    Friday, May 08 2009, 3:26PM

    “I have no objection to wind turbines but when is the government going to accept the fact that we will still need conventional power stations for the times when there is no wind.
    Most people object to the way wind turbines look. Is there any reason they have to be painted white? Use camouflage. If they don't know how ask the forces. They made whole factories dissapear in the last war.”

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