Wind farm at RAF Wind farm at RAF HarringtonHarrington

Public meetingPublic meeting

MaidwellMaidwell

1717thth September 2008 September 2008

What is it?What is it?

A proposal from Nuon Renewables A proposal from Nuon Renewables Ltd to build a wind farm at ‘RAF Ltd to build a wind farm at ‘RAF Harrington’Harrington’

Will erect 8 x 125m high turbines, Will erect 8 x 125m high turbines, each with a maximum output of each with a maximum output of 2.5MW (million watts, or 2.5MW (million watts, or ‘megawatts’)‘megawatts’)

How high is 125m?How high is 125m?

410 feet!410 feet! Burton Wold turbines are 99.5mBurton Wold turbines are 99.5m Centre Point in London is 117mCentre Point in London is 117m The London Eye is 135m and atThe London Eye is 135m and at 127.5m the Northampton 127.5m the Northampton

‘Lighthouse’ is more or less the same‘Lighthouse’ is more or less the same

How much energy will be How much energy will be harvested?harvested?

In this area of low winds speeds, the In this area of low winds speeds, the turbines will struggle to do better than turbines will struggle to do better than 20-25% of the maximum, so giving about 20-25% of the maximum, so giving about 43,800 ‘megawatt hours’ of power43,800 ‘megawatt hours’ of power

Sizewell B nuclear station last year Sizewell B nuclear station last year produced 8.9 ‘Terawatt hours’ or what produced 8.9 ‘Terawatt hours’ or what 203 similar wind farms might generate203 similar wind farms might generate

Most large coal fired stations are rated Most large coal fired stations are rated at 1000-2000MW capacityat 1000-2000MW capacity

EconomicsEconomics

So little energy? Why is onshore wind

generation being pushed so hard?

Who pays? Who profits?

Where will it be?Where will it be?

or from the air …or from the air …

Dilemma?Dilemma?

We all see the sense in We all see the sense in renewable energyrenewable energy

None of us want to be NIMBY’sNone of us want to be NIMBY’s The question is whether or not The question is whether or not

this development, at this place, this development, at this place, with this technology, and at this with this technology, and at this time, is sensibletime, is sensible

Will it create a nuisance and if so

why?

Landscape Landscape

““Oxendon, Kelmarsh, Maidwell … Square Oxendon, Kelmarsh, Maidwell … Square Norman towers with arrow slits, thatched Norman towers with arrow slits, thatched

pubs, tiny Victorian railways stations, pubs, tiny Victorian railways stations, nesting in a bosky countryside of high nesting in a bosky countryside of high

hedges and dense copses. It was enough hedges and dense copses. It was enough to make you want to beak into a chorus to make you want to beak into a chorus

of ‘There’ll always be an England …”of ‘There’ll always be an England …”Robert Harris ENIGMA, (Arrow Books 1996) Robert Harris ENIGMA, (Arrow Books 1996)

page273page273

Will it be visible?Will it be visible?

It is hard to imagine It is hard to imagine concrete towers of this concrete towers of this heightheight

but go and have a look!but go and have a look!

Noise, health, shadow flicker

and so on?

There is no clear limitation on the distance of turbines from dwellings, despite clear medical evidence that turbines within 1.2 km (in some cases 1.5 km) from habitations have caused medical problems. In France the ruling is 2 km. in the USA figures of 1.5 and 2.0 miles (in California) have been mentioned.

Companion Guide to PPS 22 at para. 37, page 166, simply asks: "Is the site constrained by a population centre, or scattered dwellings?"

Blue Circles - 1.2 km - Clear medical evidence of problemsBlack Circles- 2.0 km - As in FranceRed Circles - 4 km (2.5 miles) - Striking visual impact, subject to topography

Other impacts

Local AmenitiesLocal Amenities

Harrington Museum and Harrington Museum and Monument?Monument?

Brampton Valley Way?Brampton Valley Way? Ecology?Ecology? Public rights of way? British Public rights of way? British

Horse Society recommends a Horse Society recommends a minimum of 3 times the height or minimum of 3 times the height or 375m from bridleways375m from bridleways

Into the future …Into the future …

Grid connection: pylons?Grid connection: pylons? More turbines, as at Burton More turbines, as at Burton

Wold?Wold? Effect on house sales and prices?Effect on house sales and prices?

Cumulative effectsCumulative effects

““Cumulative effects are also required to Cumulative effects are also required to be taken into account where not only be taken into account where not only two or more wind energy developments two or more wind energy developments are visible from the same point, but are visible from the same point, but also are visible shortly after each other also are visible shortly after each other along the same journey. Thus just along the same journey. Thus just because no other sites are visible from because no other sites are visible from the proposed wind energy development the proposed wind energy development site it should not be assumed there are site it should not be assumed there are not cumulative effects.”not cumulative effects.” (Companion (Companion Guide to PPS 22 para. 5.23, page 62)Guide to PPS 22 para. 5.23, page 62)

There are at least NINE other proposals within

a few miles of the section of A14 from

Kettering to Catthorpe