Oxford wind turbine plan takes flight (From The Oxford Times)
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Oxford wind turbine plan takes flight
6:00am Thursday 20th August 2009 in
PLANS to build a wind turbine between the Cowley car works and Horspath were today set to be unveiled by Oxford City Council.
A £3m turbine could be built on council-owned land across the road from the Horspath Road athletics track to generate enough electricity to power 1,200 homes a year.
It will have a combined blade and tower height of 130m (426ft), which means it would be taller than the 122m (400ft) turbine next to the M4 motorway in Reading.
John Tanner, the council’s executive member for a cleaner, greener city, said: “Wind turbines are quiet, graceful and not a threat to wildlife. Compared to ugly electricity pylons, wind turbines are a huge improvement for Oxford’s environment.
“The real threat to our countryside is not wind turbines but climate change. I hope everyone will support this plan.”
Detailed technical and environmental work is expected to begin shortly and a planning application could be submitted in 2011.
A test mast will also be put up soon to see if the wind at the site is strong enough to drive a turbine.
Last year, the council asked experts to look at four possible sites for a wind turbine, all on the edge of the city.
The others were at Cutteslowe Park, near Hinksey Heights Golf Club and south of Greater Leys.
Tom Brinicombe, of Partnerships for Renewables, which is working with the council on the scheme, said Horspath was selected because it was well away from housing.
He said: “There are also a number of businesses and organisations in the vicinity. There’s potential for the turbines to supply green electricity directly to them.
“The current plans are to have just one turbine. But there’s the potential to have more. If we do that, we will make sure the local community knows exactly what’s going on.”
The company hailed the announcement as “a major breakthrough” in the pursuit of renewable energy generation on council land.
Mr Brinicombe said: “We have spoken to the vast majority of local authorities in England and Wales. Oxford is the first one to show the leadership to come into this.”
Nick Rau, of Friends of the Earth, said: “More local renewable energy sites like this will help avert runaway climate change and bring financial benefits to the community.”
The first wind farm in the South East opened last year near Watchfield, in the Vale of White Horse.
Comments(16)
brianbbleys
says...
7:38am Thu 20 Aug 09
LadyPenelope
says...
8:11am Thu 20 Aug 09
al_oxford
says...
9:01am Thu 20 Aug 09
Why the long wait? We need more renewable power now (if not 10 years ago)!
Lovebike
says...
10:04am Thu 20 Aug 09
They could combine it with a tourist attraction: the dreaming spires from 130m up in Horspath.
Peat
says...
11:31am Thu 20 Aug 09
Stick one up and you win the green vote. Totally disregarding the fact that the power used to produce them will never be recouped.....
Then there is the narrow window of operating conditions that cripple these sources of power. Too little wind, they wont turn, too much and they have to be locked solid as to not destroy the motors.
And as for John Tanner's quote: "Compared to ugly electricity pylons, wind turbines are a huge improvement for Oxford’s environment". Last time i checked John, electricity pylons didn't generate electricty, They transport it. How does he think the power from his beloved turbine will be transported to the 'up to' 1200 homes? He's an air-head, and air-head in charge of our taxes. But thats not exactly new now is it?
As you can tell, i feel quite passionatley about the subject....
LadyPenelope
says...
1:48pm Thu 20 Aug 09
They may be very environmentally unfriendly to build (didn't they close the UK plant down???), but surely their shelf life would overcome this eventually?
oxman
says...
2:14pm Thu 20 Aug 09
Peat wrote:Concerning your theory that they don't recoup the power used to produce them....could you provide a source for this statement?
Wind Turbines = Green Political Propaganda.
Stick one up and you win the green vote. Totally disregarding the fact that the power used to produce them will never be recouped.....
Then there is the narrow window of operating conditions that cripple these sources of power. Too little wind, they wont turn, too much and they have to be locked solid as to not destroy the motors.
And as for John Tanner's quote: "Compared to ugly electricity pylons, wind turbines are a huge improvement for Oxford’s environment". Last time i checked John, electricity pylons didn't generate electricty, They transport it. How does he think the power from his beloved turbine will be transported to the 'up to' 1200 homes? He's an air-head, and air-head in charge of our taxes. But thats not exactly new now is it?
As you can tell, i feel quite passionatley about the subject....
Peat
says...
3:38pm Thu 20 Aug 09
I know. I'm not knocking wind power to promote other energy-sources.
I am knocking the picture paintied that Wind Turbines are somehow 'Clean' or 'Free' energy.
Peat
says...
3:45pm Thu 20 Aug 09
It's hard to find any sources that aren't swaying wildly in either direction. Most figures are either provided by NIMBI groups or Government/Commercia
l bodies.
So, in short, i can't provide a credible source. It is just my opinion.
Peat
says...
3:50pm Thu 20 Aug 09
I just won't be sucked into thinking they are a realistic major-power source.
LadyPenelope
says...
3:57pm Thu 20 Aug 09
Peat wrote:Also an engineer, I share your thoughts! :)
On a general note, i would welcome this turbine. As an engineer, i like the way they look and work. I just won't be sucked into thinking they are a realistic major-power source.
People seem to think they are a green solution, but often overlook the immense carbon footprint in building them.
Where DO they actually get built now?
oxman
says...
4:58pm Thu 20 Aug 09
Peat wrote:Fair comment...I was looking for figures after you made the statement and it all appeared to be nimby/ Gov stuff and just wondered whether you had something a little more credible!!!
@oxman:
It's hard to find any sources that aren't swaying wildly in either direction. Most figures are either provided by NIMBI groups or Government/Commercia
l bodies.
So, in short, i can't provide a credible source. It is just my opinion.
Good points made about the carbon footprint though.
Harsh@home
says...
10:35am Fri 21 Aug 09
Windfarm Britain means (very) expensive electricity
Windfarm Britain means (very) expensive electricity
Renewable energy at normal prices 'is a myth'
http://www.theregist
er.co.uk/2009/07/22/
wind_intermittency_s
tudy/
sedbergh76
says...
11:09am Fri 21 Aug 09
I originate from Cumbria and the fells above Kendal and Sedbergh have a permament eyesore since they were installed and they ARE noisy.
I hope we will be allowed to have an opionion ... even if you do ignore majority objections
oxman
says...
4:41pm Fri 21 Aug 09
I would have no objections, though, to seeing a nuclear powerplant of some sort in Horspath, or, better still, an old fashioned coal burning power station.
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Tony Duffin, of Partnerships for Renewables and councillor John Tanner at the site off Horspath Road
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someguyfromhereandthere says...
6:28am Thu 20 Aug 09
I cant see what more farmers and landowners apply for planning permission for wind turbines in this current economic climate. Well-done Oxford!