Sheephouse Heights wind farm
Online Community Consultation

Wind energy is one of the most popular energy technologies. Opinion surveys regularly show that just over eight out of ten people are in favour of wind energy, and one in twenty are against it. The rest are undecided. 

Wind energy is one of the safest energy technologies. As far as we are aware no member of the public has ever been injured during the normal operation of a wind turbine, with over 25 years operating experience and with more than 70,000 machines installed around the world. 

There is no evidence to suggest this. The UK's first commercial wind farm at Delabole received 350,000 visitors in its first ten years of operation. A MORI poll in Scotland showed that 80% of tourists would be interested in visiting a wind farm. Furthermore, wind farm developers are often asked to provide a visitor centre, viewing platforms and rights of way to their sites. 

Wind turbines are not noisy. The evolution of wind farm technology over the past decade has rendered mechanical noise from turbines almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic swoosh of the blades passing the tower. There are strict guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity. It is possible to stand underneath a turbine and hold a conversation without having to raise your voice. 

We will need a mix of both onshore and offshore wind energy to meet the UK's challenging targets on climate change. At present, onshore wind is more economical than development offshore. Furthermore, offshore windfarms take longer to develop, as the sea is inherently a more hostile environment. 

Wind farming is popular with farmers, because their land can continue to be used for growing crops or grazing livestock. Sheep, cows and horses are not disturbed by wind turbines.

The first wind farm built in the UK, Delabole, has a stud farm and riding school.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says the available evidence suggests that appropriately positioned windfarms do not pose a significant hazard for birds. All wind farm proposals are subject to rigorous environmental assessment before development is permitted and that the effects of any approved developments are monitored before and after construction.

"The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds views climate change as the most serious long-term threat to wildlife in the UK and globally and, therefore, we support the Government's target to source 15% of electricity from renewables by 2015.

To meet this target, the RSPB favours a broad mix of renewables, especially those, like solar energy, with large long- term potential and minimal environmental impacts. However, wind power has the greatest potential to make a significant difference in the UK in the coming decade. It is the most advanced and widely available of the new renewable technologies."

There is no evidence that "house prices fall". According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, there are no studies that suggest an effect either way, but at Nympsfield in Gloucestershire, house prices continued to gain in value after plans for the turbine were announced in 1992 and continued to increase since the turbine began operating in 1997. Recent surveys in areas near to a wind project show 78% of respondents reporting no difference in house prices, with some even reporting an increase.