Councils ‘Overwhelmed’ By Windfarm Planning Applications
June 20, 2012 | 
Author Fife Council to ask for a moratorium
The leader of Fife Council is to ask the Scottish Government to approve a moratorium on all wind applications in Fife while it consults local communities on views on whether its “area of search” policy for wind developments is working.
The council have been receiving four or five applications a week for some years now, and Alex Rowley claims that:
“At the moment too many developers are simply being opportunistic with applications for areas that are not appropriate for wind turbines, which is taking up valuable planning time,” said Rowley.
He goes on to say that:
“Despite this, our teams are dealing with all applications professionally and as efficiently as possible, taking into consideration all the relevant policies and guidance as well as any objections that come our way. There are also often complex environmental appraisals to be considered as part of this work.”
The council’s executive committee meets next Monday to consider a report on planning policy for wind farm developments and to discuss the way forward.
“At the end of the day we need a planning and policy framework in place that is respected by developers and enforced at government level,” said Rowley.
Meanwhile, in Aberdeenshire a councillor has claimed that applications for wind turbines are overwhelming communities. Peter Argyle also says applications should be put on hold for six months to give councils ‘time and space to take stock’. Mr. Argyle also stated that his authority had received about 800 applications for onshore turbines in 14 months. He wants the Scottish Government to waive the rule giving applicants the right to appeal to ministers if their plans are not determined by councillors in two months.
Posted in Onshore Wind
It has been a bad hair day for the Wind industry. What with the UK government seeking to reduce onshore subsidies by 25%, (Ex)Uber Greenies like Jimmy Lovelock and Fritz Varenholt describing them as virtually useless and the news that over 1000 offshore wind turbine foundations are crumbling ……it doesn’t look good !! This is just the latest criticism of a long list of false hopes, exaggeration, and falsified promises alledgedly made by the industrial wind lobby. They are accused of presenting half truths, white lies, and falsehoods to get subsidies and then warn against losing jobs to try and keep the largess going.
Also, it is said that, Overall subsidies paid to UK renewables amount to 1.5billion pounds a year and according to UK Government figures the saving of 9.5million tonnes of CO2 a year mostly by Wind (2010 figures) represents just Four Ten Thousands (0.0004) of total global emissions and the effect on atmospheric CO2 concentration is for all intents and purposes ….ZERO.
Some studies (Le Pair et al) actually maintain that the wind industry incrseases Co2 emissions and this Dutch study seems to bear out what’s happening in Danemark which has the most per capita turbines and highest electricity costs in Europe.
In Germany even the Greens are saying ‘Die Energiewende ist schon gescheitert’ (the energy revolution has already failed) and this aggressively renewables Nation appears to be having second thoughts. The decision to close down 2/3rds of their Nuclear generating capacity has put intolerable strains on the grid and seems incomprehensible.
So where does this leave Scotland? Does FM Salmond know something that the rest of Europe/the World has missed? Will his bold decision for 100% renewable Scotland bear fruit. Indeed, is it even possible without a fossil fuel baseload and back-up particularly so when he insists that there will be no Nuclear generation in his Scotland. The prospect of Wave and Tidal power seems far off and appears to be very challenging technically in an extremely hostile environment for machinery.
It looks like the ‘Wind Rush’ is over (except in Scotland) and the ‘Dash for Gas’ is on. With unimaginable quantities of the stuff being discovered all over the Globe, abundant, cheap and relatively clean burning gas may make Wind generation look like a very expensive and failed folly.
Certainly when looking at the contribution to the grid by the 6500 hugely subsidised Uk Turbines, I’ve got to admit it looks pretty pathetic. Still, FM Alec Salmond (Graduate in History and Economics) seems supremely confident even though experienced Engineers are, in the main, pretty scathing.
My (grown up) Children and aged parents are in fuel poverty. We live in a rural community where there has been an incredible number of applications for wind turbines and we do feel overwhelmed by the aggressive and opportunistic push by Landowners to get their ‘snout in the trough’ while their Agents sanctimoniously Preen themselves by claiming (Absurdly in my opinion) that they are helping to save the planet.
Will the rest of the world eventually look on in awe and follow Scotland’s lead?
Wind turbines cannot generate enough energy to reduce global CO2 levels to a meaningful degree; what’s more wind power is by nature intermittent and cannot generate a steady output, necessitating back-up coal and gas power plants that significantly negate the saving of greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to the inefficacy of wind power there are ecological drawbacks, including damage to habitats, wildlife and the far-from-insignificant aesthetic drawback of the assault upon natural beauty and the pristine landscape, which wind turbines entail.
The spambot is back I see
Can I suggest a bit of positive thinking spammer? PS Shale gas punting is hype not positivity.
Would welcome any of your positive suggestions though I understand Farmers aren’t known for their optimism. Is the halving of domestic gas costs in the US, as a result of the shale gas revolution, hype?
We are part of a booming industry thanks. Farming is the growth industry of the 21st century thanks to a rising Asian middle class.
Low US gas prices are due to lack of infrastructure to move and use it. The Henry hub price is not a usable price. Gas prices here where it can be used have risen massively hence the rise in energy bills.
Shale gas suits large open spaces with low population density. The rigs pumps ponds and hardstandings every 300 acres running generators etc and crew changes 24/7 are a bit harder to fit into our landscape. But if you want that sort of thing along with the attendant earthquakes and pollution I suggest you seek planning permission immediately.
itsyourself(merde pour cervaux)
Every Farmer is a subsidy junky and I could guarantee that they would happily seek planning permission for a fracking facility just as they would for a wind farm….as you know; and as long as the readies were coming in any thought for the great unwashed would be sidelined while their kids attend private schools and the 4×4 is renewed every 2yrs. Have you ever seen a farmer on a bike? So don’t spew out that eco-babble crap.
Your opinion on low US gas prices is just so much S***. Low gas prices due to lack of infrastructure to move and use it, earthqaukes, pollution? Oh C’mon
You come across as a conceited land owning smart arse hooked on the sanctimonious preening of climate change. Get a life.
Massive gaps between fracking companies’ capital expenditures and their cash flows have led more than one commentator to describe them as no better than Ponzi schemes. Poland has just downgraded its estimate of its shale gas reserves by a massive 90%, and Exxon have bailed out.
You are like a wee boy with no money who has wandered into a sweetie shop Spanner. Grow up – fracking is not going to be a miracle cure for our energy woes.
And for all you fracking fans – take a look at the latest short film from Josh Fox, the producer of ‘Gasland’. It’s 16 minutes long and well worth watching.
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