15 February 2007

In the same month as the United Nations environmental summit meeting in Paris saying that drastic action was required to combat climate change, Coronation Power has today submitted planning applications for its wind farm schemes at Reaps Moss, near Bacup and Todmorden Moor, Todmorden. The application for Reaps Moss wind farm will be considered by Rossendale Council, whilst the Todmorden Moor scheme will be considered by Calderdale Council.

Building the two wind farms will support the delivery of the local councils’ environmental targets by generating clean and sustainable energy, will help tackle the harmful effects of climate change, and importantly provide in the region of £675,000 to environmental and education projects in Bacup and Todmorden and the surrounding area.

In addition, people living in the area will be able to personally share in the future success of wind generation by buying a stake in the Todmorden Moor wind farm, thanks to the efforts of Microgeneration Yorkshire, based at Hebden Bridge.

The planning applications for the two schemes have been submitted following a 20 month assessment of the environmental impact of the wind farm proposals, detailed technical studies and widespread consultation with people living and working in the surrounding area. The studies have looked at a range of issues including landscaping, local ecology and hydrology, noise, bird movements, mineworkings, archaeology and the wind farms’ construction.

The public consultation programme for the two sites included four exhibitions held in Bacup and Todmorden last year, virtual interactive displays of the wind farms, leaflets distributed to local residents, press advertisements, online questions and answers as well as meetings with community groups and individuals.

The Reaps Moss wind farm, to be built on land owned by two local landowners, will have four turbines that will generate up to 12MW of electricity, the equivalent to the annual energy needs of about 6,700 homes. Using five turbines, the Todmorden Moor wind farm will generate up to 15 MW of power for the equivalent of approximately 8,300 homes.

Subject to receiving planning consent, the installation and operation of the two wind farms is targeted for the second half of 2008; each farm will be connected to the National Grid for use in the North West region.

Vickram Mirchandani, Coronation Power’s Managing Director, said: “Over the past 20 months, we have carefully considered the different aspects of our plans and listened to people’s comments — both for and against our schemes. These sites are ideal locations for small wind farms, and if permission is granted local people can directly benefit from their operation.

“The sites are one of the few remaining opportunities to enable Rossendale and Calderdale Councils to meet their renewable energy targets and contribute to their environmental policy objectives. And in a small way our wind farms will support the government’s energy and environmental commitments of energy security and diversity and the reduction in carbon emissions. There is a political commitment to onshore wind farm generation from the main parties that is supported by the major energy utilities, academics and others; they all recognise that onshore wind has a real and valuable contribution to make to the UK alongside other forms of generation.

“The recent meeting of the International Panel on Climate Change highlighted the need for all of us to take urgent steps to reduce carbon emissions, and they echoed the comments made by the Stern Review that was published last year. Our wind farms will make a small contribution to the UK’s carbon reduction efforts; at this stage, every little bit helps.”