STATEMENT ON WIND TURBINES

Sustainable Crediton is in favour of using wind energy. This should be part of the mix of renewable energy sources to 'keep the lights on' and reduce our carbon footprint. The reduction of our energy use (resulting in lower bills) and energy conservation are important but we still need energy sources.  

Of course, wind turbines should be sensitively sited in consultation with local people. In our view the best way to introduce wind energy or other renewables locally is through community owned, co-operative projects. Such projects can ensure full consultation with residents, benefits remaining in the local community and sites acceptable to all.

We are in favour of wind turbines for the following reasons:

• Wind is an always renewable resource; we need it as part of a mix if we are to achieve clean renewable energy targets.
• Wind turbines are very efficient in terms of energy generated in relation to energy required for manufacture and installation and are also efficient in terms of cost per kWh generated. Prices are not subject to sudden increases.
• Generating electricity for use locally is much more efficient than transporting electricity over bigger distances, when the loss in transmission can be 10% or more.
• Wind has a big contribution to make for our energy security; it is a mature and safe technology which can be put in place quickly and help to reduce imports from places such as Qatar and Russia. This reduces our susceptibility to price hikes and shortages.
• The turbines are repairable, easily maintained and can be moved if necessary. Wind energy is a simple, proven and zero-carbon technology
• Supporting the renewables industry helps to create thousands of skilled jobs - more jobs than those that would be created by nuclear installations and local jobs, not just clustered around power stations.
• In contrast, fossil fuels are a limited resource, increasingly expensive and make a large contribution to global warming and the weird weather of climate change - they need to be phased out.
• Production of fossil fuels in this country is decreasing year on year and around 30% of old conventional power stations are due to be closed down in the next 5 to 20 years , so we are dependent on supplies which can be cut off or made hugely expensive. Exploration for more oil in our waters is highly subsidised by the taxpayer and would produce expensive fuel because of the difficulty of getting it out; the same applies to 'fracking' which is also questionable in its effect on the environment.
• Nuclear power is not the answer. It depends on uranium, which is a limited resource. Huge subsidies are paid through our taxes for decommissioning and storage of waste material [currently estimated at £260 per taxpayer per annum while all subsidies for all renewables come to approx £10 per annum on electricity bills). Nuclear power is inherently dangerous. There is still concern about cancer clusters round nuclear sites and other countries are phasing out this technology 

What of the particular concerns about wind turbines?

• We don't feel that 'don't like the look of them' is a valid argument. We think they are elegant structures and much preferable to some of the farm buildings which are put up without protest. Farm buildings are necessary and we think wind turbines are too.
• Birds are not likely to be affected unless on a big migration route. The RSPB is in favour of wind energy.
• Bats are a concern, but turbines are usually sited away from buildings and structures which attract bats.
• Noise and flicker will not affect people if the turbines are at a suitable distance from houses. We think that this has been over-emphasised by the anti turbine lobby.
• Wind does not blow all the time, but new ways of storing the energy produced by wind and other renewables are being developed right now. Along with investment in the national grid and "smart grid" technologies will mean that back-up for renewables will eventually be unnecessary.

There is much misinformation about wind turbines. It also seems that people opposed to wind turbines don't understand the urgency of changing to renewable energy. We have to do much much more with renewables if we are to have energy security in our country and stabilise our household energy costs. And it is essential that we reduce our carbon emissions to limit our contribution to global warming over the next 20 to 30 years. We must think of our children's and grandchildren's future, not just of our own comfortable lives.