cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/14078952
Campaigners have warned that building England’s largest onshore wind farm on protected peatland would be “catastrophic for carbon storage, wildlife and flood risk”. Saudi-backed developer World Wide Renewable Energy Global Ltd wants to construct the farm on more than 2,300 hectares at Walshaw Moor, between Hebden Bridge and Haworth.
Consisting of up to 65 wind turbines, it would be capable of generating up to 302MW of energy.
The developer said last September that it would establish a £75m community benefit fund and also pledged to end grouse shooting if it was granted planning permission.
However, campaigners say it would impact endangered birds, like curlew, lapwing, skylark and merlin, and exacerbate already serious local flooding.
The huge development would need 22 miles of access roads and 160 tonnes of reinforced concrete for each of the gigantic turbines.
At 200m tall (655ft), the turbines would be 20m higher than London’s 41-storey Gherkin building.
Campaigners say turbine construction and the associated infrastructure will affect hydrology, causing peatlands to dry out to such an extent that they will become a net emitter of carbon rather than a carbon sink.
Normally this kind of NIMBYism for turbines is misplaced, but I am inclined to agree here. I don’t have time to look into all the arguments, but wanted to at least say this much.
It’s a very complex and sensitive ecosystem that is already suffering badly due to grouse shooting (they install drainage and conduct burns to change the vegetation) and all the infrastructure needed is certainly not going to help restore it and may make the situation worse. Having the gall to offer to stop grouse shooting if the plans were greenlit is pretty cheeky too.