Wind turbines

[ChrisJB]

The R.S.P.B also adds, concerning the uplands of Britain:

"We should place them at the centre of a rural renaissance and protect them as the green lungs of the country, while rewarding those who manage them for the benefit of people and wildlife." (The Times, 1st August 2007).

From this, one would expect that the R.S.P.B would be dead against upland wind farms at the very least.

Regards, Chris

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by kshotton45

Have you read post #6 (above) ? The details are not mine, but from a report by RSPB, WWF, English Nature and BWEA.

Keith.
.

Thanks Keith, I did read it. The power companies have a big TV advertising campaign at the mo. I was aware of all the above supporting it. I feel there is some political expedience going on here. Or am I just cynical.

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by Jez

It's clearly awful to see the kites ending up in that state. It can make a man change his mind instantly.

I have to agree, Before these photos i never liked nor disliked wind turbines.
Ok maybe they are bad for the picturesque landscape like pylons and power stations. But always thought they was for the better.
Now though I do feel differently towards them. I assume the kites got sucked into the wind flow?? (apologies amature learning) How else may they effect mammals birds etc??

[pressld2]

Several people have pointed out that wind farms cannot supply enough power to meet the UK's needs. This is true. Neither can solar, tidal, thermal, wave, hydro or bio-fuels. However, a combination of all of these just might.

Dave P.

[Satchmo]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Several people have pointed out that wind farms cannot supply enough power to meet the UK's needs. This is true. Neither can solar, tidal, thermal, wave, hydro or bio-fuels. However, a combination of all of these just might.

Dave P.

Well said. My sentiments exactly. We have a few wind farms near me and I visit one of them regularly plus I have never seen any dead birds as of yet. The Wind Farm I visit is also home to quite a number of cattle and a wildlife pond. I do find them to be magnificent though, a real feat of engineering. And, afterall, it's renewable energy as they say!

Also, they are low maintenance too, if you compare them to a regular power station, which surely means less cars in rural areas (am I right in thinking power stations are usually situated away from residential areas??). Anyway, my point is that the amount of roadkill I see on rural roads is heartbreaking. On one section of road near me I regularly see 5+ Rabbits at the side of the road . Therefore, less cars on rural roads is a good thing.

Simon

[svenrufus]

Think for a minute about how many birds, mammals, insects, etc etc will be killed by climate change unless we take substantive steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Tragic as it is for the birds in the pictures above to have been in a collision with a turbine, don't allow your sentiment to get in the way of what needs to be an objective, scientifically validated and long term strategic decision.

Put blunty it may be that we are being asked to make a choice between a few birds at one end of the scale, or a few species of birds at the other end.
Our loss of landscape (views) is not comparable to the potential for Bangladeshi loss of landscape (flooding of actual land, an area of 15000 square kilometres, where 7 million people live, is less than 1 metre above sea level)

Wind turbines are not the magic bullet, not by any means. But they do have the advantage over other stategies of being relatively cheap to build and install, and a hell of a lot quicker to bring on line than nuclear for example, where even if we really go for it, it will be at least 10-12 years before any new nuclear power comes on line. We may not have that long to wait.

A good mix of renewable energy technology can provide a significant part of our energy needs. Another sigificant contribution can be made by increases in energy efficiency and reducing unnecessary use. Add it all up, and we get where we need to be.

Oh, and before anyone trots out the already tired argument that there is no point us doing anything while China is building one or two coal fired power stations a week, just think why they are building them - to supply energy to the factories churning out endless consumer junk for us in the West. Their emissions are underwritten by our lifestyle and spending patterns. We are the ones that can make the difference.

If all you can do to help is turn off the standby button or change to a green energy tariff, then do it.
If you get the chance to comment on plans for wind turbines, welcome them with open arms.

We only have one planet, there is no plan B.

[kshotton45]

This email is just in from the RSPB in answer to the question, - 'Are Wind Turbines killing our birds? '

Some of the earlier wind farm developments were not so good because they used a lattice support and were often placed on what were narrow migration corridors. There is a bit of irony in that Phase II turbines are larger but are generally less of a problem although the RSPB still does not favour placing turbines near wetland areas. In this respect, the RSPB assesses each proposal on merit. One of the less obvious problems with Phase II developments is that they require an enormous amount of infrastructure and this means habitat destruction, hence the objection to the Lewis wind farm.

Regards

Ian Peters - Wildlife Advisor

A bit vague, but it seems the emphasis is on saving the habitat from destruction. I would agree with that as we've seen before how scant regard some of the developers have for wildlife areas.

Keith.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

Think for a minute about how many birds, mammals, insects, etc etc will be killed by climate change unless we take substantive steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Tragic as it is for the birds in the pictures above to have been in a collision with a turbine, don't allow your sentiment to get in the way of what needs to be an objective, scientifically validated and long term strategic decision.

Put blunty it may be that we are being asked to make a choice between a few birds at one end of the scale, or a few species of birds at the other end.
Our loss of landscape (views) is not comparable to the potential for Bangladeshi loss of landscape (flooding of actual land, an area of 15000 square kilometres, where 7 million people live, is less than 1 metre above sea level)

Wind turbines are not the magic bullet, not by any means. But they do have the advantage over other stategies of being relatively cheap to build and install, and a hell of a lot quicker to bring on line than nuclear for example, where even if we really go for it, it will be at least 10-12 years before any new nuclear power comes on line. We may not have that long to wait.

A good mix of renewable energy technology can provide a significant part of our energy needs. Another sigificant contribution can be made by increases in energy efficiency and reducing unnecessary use. Add it all up, and we get where we need to be.

If all you can do to help is turn off the standby button or change to a green energy tariff, then do it.
If you get the chance to comment on plans for wind turbines, welcome them with open arms.

We only have one planet, there is no plan B.

Couldn't agreE more it make me sad when wind turbine projects are turned down again and again mainly for asthetic reasons, when at the end of the day, they can be taken down again with relative ease once other types of renewables become viable - they don't have to be permenant. If there is a chance we can change things for the better with regard to climate change then we should at least try what is the possible harm verses the possible benefit? We should do it now, all guns blazing......

[ron1863]

I discovered these while out walking on the Campsie Fells a couple of weeks ago - I'm sure they were not there last year. They are near Stirling district in beautiful countryside, not so beautiful now though.

[IMG]

[ron1863]

Tried inserting this image in my previous reply re Wind Turbines, hope this works