‘Show yourselves to be “friendly” only to get information, and give absolutely nothing away.’

Often the information provided by the wind developers regarding their proposals, provides only a scant description of their proposals and poses more questions than it answers

 When wind developers issue ‘householder comment cards’ and questionaires etc, you can of course respond in anyway you feel appropriate.

However, advice has been sought on ‘appropriate action’ at this stage, direct from those at the forefront of opposing wind turbines.

The following stands out from their comments on appropriate action:

• The ‘householder comments cards’ are to help the wind developers gauge the size and strength of the opposition and to understand the reasons for the opposition. The wind developers want to know our objections so that they can adjust their planning application to counteract our objections, before they submit it to the planning authorities

• It is your absolute right to know what wind developers propose to do in your backyard before they start asking YOU questions. Ask the wind developers YOUR questions when you are presented with one of their questionnaires or comments cards

• Show yourselves to be “friendly” only to get information, and give absolutely nothing away.

• Inspect closely all claims and reports made by decision-makers at every level and seek clarification by asking questions from different sources.

• State that you are opposed to their proposal and make a list of YOUR  questions for THEM to answer. Include your name and address so that they can reply.

Most companies will reply fairly promptly in writing to written letters from the public.

Regarding questioning technique, please note:

It has been known for wind developers when asked if they receive a government subsidy through wind turbines, to answer ‘no’ and then, under pressure, to come forth with comments such as “we are incentivised by the renewables obligation.”

Examples of questions arising from npowers first pamphlet regarding their Batsworthy Cross wind turbine proposal:

1.  What is the tower height of the proposed turbines?

2.  What is the tower height of the tallest ones installed in England to date?

3.  What are the dimensions of the blades?

4.  What make and type are the proposed turbines?

5.  Is the latest model of the proposed turbines proposed?

6.  When was the latest model of the proposed turbines released?

7.  Where is the proposed site of each proposed turbine i.e. site plan?

8.  Where is it proposed that the electricity from the proposed wind farm will join existing electricity power lines?

9.  Might pylons be part of the proposal in order to connect the electricity from the proposed wind farm to existing electricity power lines?

10. Is a substation proposed? If so, how big is the proposed substation and where is it’s proposed location?

11. Is an anemometer proposed? If so, how high is the proposed anemometer and where is it’s proposed location?

12. What is the total construction time for the proposed wind farm?

13. Might road closures occur during the proposed construction of the proposed wind farm and if so for how long overall? 

14. What is the total maintenance time per month per proposed turbine?

15. Might road closures occur during the proposed maintenance of the proposed wind farm and if so, for how long overall per 10 years? 

16. What are the dimensions of the proposed foundations per turbine?

17. Will the proposed foundations be pile driven and if so how long will this take and how much noise will there be from the pile driving?

18. What is it proposed will be done with material removed from the ground to make way for the proposed foundations?

19. What materials are required for the proposed foundations?

20. What is the tonnage of material required to fill the proposed foundations per turbine?

21. Upon de-commissioning a site such as the one proposed, what is the tonnage and volume of foundation material left in-situ per turbine?

22. Will npower compensate the community for property value losses?

23. Do wind farms make a noise and if so when is the noise most noticeable?

24. What is the manufacturers stated noise output in dBA for the proposed turbines?

25. Which parts of wind turbines make a noise and which is the noisiest part / function?

26. Why, where and for how long are noise monitoring tests been done and what will they prove?

27. Why is the noise testing period only 2 weeks long, two weeks in winter is not representative of the whole year.

28. Can the shadows of the rotating blades cause the light to appear to flicker?

29. At what speed will the blades rotate?

30. Will there be lights on the hub and/or blades at night?

31. Will npower take the community to a like site to that proposed when there is a light wind such that the blades are rotating and the noise of them is most noticeable.

32. Will npower stage an accurate sound demo on site with speakers located at the proposed site of each turbine and when there is a light wind blowing and will npower repeat this process to catch the wind blowing lightly from different directions?

33. Will npower erect 9 helium blimps at the proposed height and at the proposed site of each turbine while this proposal is under consideration?

34. Will npower provide and erect on site,  9 inflatable, helium, life size turbines?

35. What is the total installation cost of this proposed windfarm?

36. What is the total maintenance cost of this proposed wind turbine site over 25 years?

37. What percentage of the total income, over the life of the proposed  Batsworthy Cross wind turbine proposal, does npower expect to receive in subsidy / incentives from the government under the renewables obligation and how much money is this? 

38. How many wind turbines and / or wind turbine sites are proposed across Devon by the wind developer?

39. What percentage is the claimed CO2 saving of this proposal of  the countrys total CO2, released?

40. If the wind developers “community consultation” shows a majority of the community are opposed to a wind farm at Batsworthy Cross, will the wind developer abandon their proposal?

etc, etc, etc…

THE WIND DEVELOPERS ARE EXPECTING US

THEY FIND OPPOSITION EVERYWHERE THEY GO

So remember –

Hold our fire until we see the whites of their eyes!

Until then, we can seek answers to our questions!