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The Benefits and Disadvantages
THE BENEFITS
Proponents of windfarms claim they are the solution to "global warming" which by itself is highly disputed among the scientific community, many of whom believe we are heading for another ice age, the present warming being a perfectly normal fluctuation in the earths weather pattern. They also quote "Kyoto" as though it was cast in stone, when the truth is that Kyoto was largely engineered by ENRON the collapsed energy giant to improve their profitability, hence the reason for the US not to ratify the agreement.(reported in the "Washington Post")
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Windfarm companies predict a number of alleged benefits arising from the wind farm developments in terms of achieving savings on the emission of a number of 'greenhouse gases' by claiming they will replace fossil fuelled power. To date this has not happened, in fact any decision on the closure of the only two operational coal fired power stations in Scotland - Longannet and Cockenzie, will be a commercial one only, according to the Scottish Executive.
When the wind is blowing only the turbines in coal fired power stations can be shut down and not the boilers, the steam is vented off and wasted. "Where are the emission savings ?"
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
You will hear claims of jobs, cheap electricity, tourists flocking to see the turbines, community benefit etc etc etc! None of this is backed up by fact. Indeed tourist authorities up and down the country say windfarms will put off tourists, eg "Cold Northcott" visitor centre closed after 2 years and the "Swaffam Experience" quoted in the RDC application for Ben Aketil is in dire financial trouble. Even the much lauded "Gaia" centre at Delabole in Cornwall has gone bust
THE RISKS & IMPACTS
SWAG argue that adverse impacts on landscape, recreation, tourism and local amenity in such a sensitive area as the Isle of Skye, once fully quantified, will validate that the Isle of Skye in general and Edinbane in particular should not be open to exploitation by profit seeking big businesses at the expense of the resident population.
Wind farm developments will never balance the irreversible damage that will be inflicted on the unique, priceless and unspoilt environment that currently makes Skye one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Scotland.
A conclusive report on the impacts of existing wind farms, including those mentioned below, is available from Country Guardian at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/windfarms/case.htm
DAMAGE TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
The Isle of Skye's economy is heavily dependent on income either directly or indirectly derived from tourism. The adverse impact created by developing a wind farm,or indeed a number of wind farms potentially visible from many if not most locations across Northern Skye may well prove to be a critical blow for an industry that has valiantly struggled against adverse factors for a number of years, including declining tourist numbers and the effects of Foot and Mouth during 2001.
Country Guardian state that the main adverse impact that wind farm development is likely to have on the economy of an area relates to tourism. In the UK the best wind speed sites are in the areas with the finest landscapes. Wind developers are therefore targeting those areas where the tourist trade consists of those seeking peace, quiet and unspoiled countryside.
A National Tourist Board survey shows that 90% of British holiday makers who go to the countryside do so to enjoy it for its own sake and seek no further attractions like theme parks.
A survey by the University of Leiden in Holland in the late 1980s found that the majority of those questioned felt that a landscape lost its interest as wind turbines accumulated in it.
Although the first wind "farms" in Cornwall attracted tourist visits from those already in the area for other purposes, the attraction was one of novelty and visitor numbers have dropped with each succeeding year.
Clearly, if developers succeed in erecting thousands of turbines, novelty value will be lost and those seeking rural peace will head for areas not degraded by turbines.
Find out more at by reading the Country Guardian report at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/windfarms/case.htm#ktourismetc
VISUAUDIBLE INTRUSION
Height and Visibility
Each wind turbine tower proposed for the Edinbane and Ben Aketil sites will be a minimum height of 330 feet (100.58 metres) from the ground to the tip of the blade.
The proposed site on the hillside of Cruachan Beinn Mhicaskil is already 300 metres above sea level.Ben Aketil is similar The completed development in total will therefore tower some 400 metres above sea-level.
It will be highly visible from many areas of Skye, will become an unavoidable part of many views, providing a stark man-made moving contrast to the current natural, static landscape.
Comparative Noise Levels
EACH of the 28 turbines proposed for Edinbane will produce a noise level of at least 104.8 decibels (dB) when operating at a wind speed 10 metres per second (AMEC figures).
Here are some comparisons of noise output that may help put these into perspective:-
- 140 dB a jet airliner taking off at 25 metres away
- 120 dB a chain saw
- 115 dB a pig house at feeding time
- 110 dB a pneumatic drill at 5 metres away
- 100 dB a heavy lorry at 7 metres away
- 95 dB a busy street
Consider carefully Skye's unique peaceful ambiance and serenity before making considerations on how far this noise will travel.
Remember that this is a decision for the next 25to 50 years.
HEALTH CONCERNS
The Scottish Executive have stated in writing that - they are unable to assure us that our health will not be affected by the windfarms! ie they are blindly approving the construction of windfarms all over Scotland without first assessing any health risks to those living near them.
Does a windfarm affect health? local residents near the site at Marton, Askam and Ireleth in Cumbria claim that the noise is having a detrimental affect on their health and quality of life.
They have found it truly depressing to have a pleasant weekend in the garden spoilt because of the wind direction. For those closest to the windfarm the wind direction is immaterial as the turbines can be clearly audible upwind.
Another concern is shadow flicker, caused by the sun passing behind the rotating blades of a turbines at sunrise aor sunset. The pulsating light effect, not unlike a strobe or flickering fluorescent light, is not pleasant and may be dangerous to people who suffer from epilepsy or brain damage.
The effect lasts for different lengths of time but is typically for about 15 to 30 minutes per turbine. As the sun rises and sets on a different place according to the time of year, so the timing of the nuisance also varies.
Read more on the impacts of a small wind farm on the villagers of Cumbria at http://www.windfarm.fsnet.co.uk.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The proposed development site at Edinbane will cover some 2000 acres of moorland, home to many forms of flora, fauna and at least twenty known archaeological sites, including a hut circle, a possible stone circle and numerous shielings.
It is likely that the construction and operation of the wind farm at the site will cause some displacement of deer and possibly otters. Operation of the wind farm will also certainly kill birds in flight.
Some of the many different bird species to be seen in the area include: waders, grouse, gulls, songbirds, many types of Owls and raptors including Golden Eagles, Red Kites, Buzzards Whooper swans, geese and Sea Eagles. Many other species also pass over the Isle of Skye in flight whilst migrating.
The construction phase of the project will require also an unprecedented amount of heavy traffic to and from the site. Skye's roads currently struggle with existing loca tourist traffic and were never intended to carry fleets of heavy construction vehicles.
COMMUNITY DIVISION
AMEC ignored "Best Practice Guidelines" in not consulting the community prior to plans being submitted to the planning office. By this action AMEC has created would be winners and many more losers, resulting in unprecedented community division. Had the whole community had an input at an early stage and not been presented with a fait accompli of "27 in your face turbines" it is possible that an acceptable compromise could have been negotiated. This community has therefore never been given the chance to work together for the benefit of all. The result is that Edinbane is no longer a united rural community and the atmosphere within the village and ensuing vandalism has recently been compared with a deprived inner city area.
SETTING A PRECEDENT
Completion of the Edinbane wind farm project could set a dangerous precedent that would see similar scales of wind farm development replicated across the Isle of Skye, to the further detriment of one of Scotland's most precious places. Just follow the line of the grid and the windfarms will not be far away!
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