Wind Farms: Beauty or the Beast? Wind power is a clean, renewable form of energy. But while some environmentalists back the governments plans, others say.

Wind Farms: Beauty or the Beast?

Wind power is a clean, renewable form of energy. But while some environmentalists back the government’s plans, others say that wind farms are an eyesore spoiling the landscape and creating noise pollution for those living close by.

This report describes some of the key arguments for and against wind farms.

By AJ and KJ 8W

Before After

Can be built offshore: New technology allows wind farms to be built off the coast and beyond the

horizon line, meaning they are not visible from the shore. The British wind

energy Association expects 7% of the government's

2010 targets for renewable energy to be met by

offshore wind turbines.

Create jobs: The wind industry could create thousands of new jobs in the UK, according to campaign group Yes2Wind.

Are easy to decommission: Turbines last for about 25 years. Yes2Wind say

that dismantling wind turbines is a

straightforward process

compared to decommissioning nuclear or fossil

fuel powered stations.

Provide affordable energy: Wind

farms are already generating

electricity more cheaply than new nuclear power and should be able to challenge gas as the lowest cost

power source by 2010, according to

campaign Embrace the Revolution.

. Have a small footprint: The base of a turbine only occupies

a small area and farmers can still cultivate the land

around them.

Do not cause pollution: Wind turbines provide a clean source of energy with no air pollution or waste products.

Map to show where Cefn Croes is

A map to show were Cefn Croes is in the U.K

What our class thinks.

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1011121314151617

No

Ok

Yes

Farmer Bill

Framer Bill what do you think of the wind farm?

I agree with the wind energy it is a cheap and safe way to get energy.

What do you think about the change in Landscape?

I like it. It is clean, new and modern!

Now we will discuss the points against Wind Farms..

Are an eyesore: The best sites for wind farms are often remote areas. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales argue that the benefits of onshore turbines are outweighed by the negative visual impact on the countryside.

Are inefficient and unreliable: Because turbines only work intermittently they require back-up from other energy sources and only produce around 25% of their potential output, according to Country Guardian.

Cause noise pollution and flickering shadows: A Cumbrian campaign group says that the blades of turbines create high levels of noise and flickering shadows.

Can affect birds: Poorly sited wind farms can cause problems for birds because of habitat loss and collisions with turbines, say the RSPB, which has objected to several wind farm proposals. However a recent study has found that the risk of collision appears to be very low

Cause reductions in local property value: A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found that house prices are negatively affected by planning applications for wind farms, but that prices recover over time.

Interfere with defence: The Ministry of Defence is concerned that offshore wind farms could interfere with costal radar systems and that onshore farms affect low-flying aircraft training.

Are expensive: The Cost of Generating Electricity report, commissioned by the Royal Academy of Engineering, found wind power to be more costly than conventional methods of generating electricity. This is partly because of high set-up and maintenance costs, and partly because of a need for standby generators.

So Mr Bees what to you think about the wind farms being built at Cefn Croes?

I totally disagree!!! We already have the energy why waste the money? So what if it won't last forever we won't be around when it all goes wrong!

But the energy we use now won’t last forever and it is polluting the air. What do you have to say about that?

Who cares about the air?! I say leave it for the next generations to deal with!

So Mrs Joan what do you think of the Wind Farms?

I do not agree with the Wind Farms.

Why not Mrs Joan?

Because I won’t be able to take my dog for a walk as he will be to scared of the noise of the wind mills.

A big expansion of offshore wind power was announced in 2003 by the government, which granted licences for a large number of new turbines to be built off the British coast to generate electricity. In addition, onshore wind farms continued to spread across the British countryside.

The government has set a target to provide 10% of the UK’s electricity through renewable sources by 2010, and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions created by power stations and oil refineries by an average of 16%.

Summary

We think that Wind Power does have a future in the U.K. We think it is a good source of energy and Cefn Croes and all wind Farms should be

accepted.

We hope you enjoyed our slide show!!!!!!!!

By KJ and AJ