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Fears grow of blight by invasion of wind farms
Swathes of Yorkshire could soon be carpeted in wind farms amid fears that new Government rules will force through schemes against residents' will.
Calculations by the Yorkshire Post show that the current 86 turbines in seven wind farms could soon rocket to 449 in 45 developments.
Power generated would be an expected 1,100 megawatts – a quarter of that produced by the Drax coal power station at Selby, but enough electricity to power about 625,000 homes. Currently the region's turbines power just 50,000 properties.
Campaigners say that many of the proposed schemes will obstruct views of Yorkshire's national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, while others say that living close to a turbine will blight their property.
There are fears that developers will soon begin submitting plans for bigger wind farms than at present, to avoid going through the local planning process. A new Government agency, the Infrastructure Planning Commission, will soon take on responsibility for approving wind farms which will produce more than 50 megawatts of energy.
At present only three of the 31 schemes still on paper for Yorkshire meet those criteria – but there are fears developers in future may be tempted to include more turbines in schemes to hit the 50-megawatt mark.
The Tories have pledged to abolish the commission if they win the next General Election.
Shadow Environment Secretary Nick Herbert told the Yorkshire Post: "I support the production of rural energy and it's important we diversify our energy supply but there should not be a national policy dictating that we bring in wind turbines.
"We must respect local people and local planning decisions.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
