Your chance to have a look at a wind turbine

First I should like to apologise for not responding to Mr Taylor’s letter. I haven’t managed to locate his address so I cannot invite him personally to discuss wind energy and its benefits to local people and business. Secondly, I cannot guarantee my replies would be published.

In previous letters and comments I have invited all those against wind energy to view a small scale Endurance E-3120 wind turbine. So far, and to my surprise, nobody has taken me up on the offer. So this lack of interest demonstrates the Nimbys are indeed just opposed to wind on selfish grounds. Furthermore, of the 89,300 (source: Pendle Council website) residents living in Pendle, only 100 of them wrote to object to the application at Buttock Laithe! Hardly a majority is it?

So, the benefits of small scale wind: 1, Provides a local source of green energy. 2, Supports local, small to medium scale farming through diversification income. 3, Local contractors and hire companies are used for installation, maintenance and equipment. 4, Local electricity infrastructure is upgraded at a cost to the developer and is then claimed by the distribution network operator. 5, The landowner will spend his earnings locally. 6, The income for the turbine may help him employ or sustain employment. 7, Turbines are only for 25 years unlike a house. 8, Reduces the carbon footprint of the farm. 9, Has far less impact and risks in every respect than other energy sources. We should remember these are small scale turbines. 10, And other businesses like mine can grow and maybe one day employ people.

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My comment about a landowner selling his land to a developer is fair and could come true. The UK has a housing shortage of 200,000 homes and at some point Colne will have to have more homes! A town is like a business, it cannot prosper if it doesn’t grow and the Colne we see today is the result of growth. Colne cannot afford to refuse everything just because a few people don’t want change.

The subsidies are dropping for onshore wind on April 1st and October 1st this year and are being paid to offshore wind. And nice “wind” fall for the Queen one might say! Onshore wind will not go away. As the wholesale price of energy increases, the incentive for wind turbines gathers momentum. As we approach blackouts due to the shortage of power stations then so the demand for wind energy will increase too.

Mr Taylor and you, Mr Oliver, have the luxury of hiding your contact details – I don’t. You can easily find my home and office address, mobile and office telephone number. I would prefer the nuisance phone calls (as much as I like the sounds of fireworks) and ridicule to stop and ask you as I have others in the past to call me so we can discuss the subject over a brew or at a wind turbine.

As before, I offer you at my expense a chance to view the E-3120 wind turbine and a fair hearing of your concerns.

Jon Roche