Moorsyde Wind Farm Action Group (MAG)

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With links to groups we have tried to sort links alphabetically by the geographical name of the proposal, but occasionally sort by group name or acronym, especially when it covers several proposals.

Northumberland & Borders Public Inquiries.

Northumberland (Green Rigg / Ray / Steadings) Windfarms Public Inquiry. PI closed 18 December 2008. Decision awaited.

Response group: CREDIT - Campaign for Responsible Energy Development In Tynedale
Aucencorth (Nr. Penicuik, Midlothian). - Appealed 22 August 2008 (Appeal ref. P/PPA/290/169).
The Public Inquiry will reconvene at 9.30am on Wednesday 24 March in the function room of the Craigiebold Hotel, Penicuik. It is expected to last for two days. See the PEPA website for further information.
Fallago Rig (Lammermuirs). - First PI was held in February 2008, the Reporter submitted her report in August 2008.

Update: The MOD opposed the scheme on the basis of its potential impact on their air defence radar at Brizlee wood. In May this year it was discovered that the Government’s Renewable Energy Division had “been in contact with the MoD and the applicant”, prompting both SBC and East Lothian Council to formally express “growing consternation” that Scottish Ministers were acting outwith their power.

Reopened PI: In July the MoD announced they had withdrawn their opposition prompting demands for the public inquiry to be re-opened. Three months later that request has been granted. The remit of the PI was initially restricted to the MoD’s new information, but threats of legal action have produced a further concession to consider other issues, including the SB Local Plan, “the changed cumulative visual and landscape impact position (any new wind farms which have been proposed, consented or constructed since February 2008)” and, “any changes to the suggested conditions that arise because of the new evidence”.(DPEA, 1 December, 2009).

The re-convened inquiry will commence at 10.00am on Tuesday 13 April 2010 at Volunteer Hall Langstone, Duns. It will last 7 days and will sit on 13, 14, 15 20, 21, 22 and 23 April or until all evidence has been heard.

Wind News.

Industrial Wind Action (IWA). - "Industrial Wind Action™, was formed to counteract the misleading information promulgated by the wind energy industry and various environmental groups. Support for this effort comes from a large and diversified group of environmentalists, energy experts, and ordinary citizens."
US organisation with excellent international coverage of news stories that is updated daily. Gallery. Library of research papers and important articles.

National Wind Watch - UK news feed. - "A nonprofit organization that promotes awareness of the negative impacts of industrial wind energy development on our environment, economy, and quality of life." Precursor of IWA, National Wind Watch is a US organisation with wider links, including international news coverage.

Warmwell - A digest of significant wind stories on Mary Critchley’s Warmwell site.

Maps and Data Resources - NE England & SE Scotland:

windbyte.co.uk - 'Tracking the Klondike windrush in N. E. England and S. E. Scotland.'
This site attempts to do what the strategic planners and local authorities are markedly failing to do: give an overview of wind power development in the region.

Scottish Borders Council, Windfarm Database.
The SBC Planning Department maintains a database of wind farm proposals in the Scottish Borders. It includes information on planning applications, Section 36 applications and sites that have had screening and scoping opinions issued. This list is downloadable and a separate downloadable map shows locations.

Ayrshire Joint Planning Steering Group (AJPSG): Windfarm Mapping Application.
Useful interactive mapping application which shows the site footprint of proposed and operational wind turbine arrays across the south of Scotland.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). 'Windfarms in Scotland' (April 2008). (NB This is an 8Mb PDF file which will take some time to download).
Very useful map which lists arrays that were ‘Installed’, ‘Approved’ and ‘Scoping’ as of April 2008. The map gives the geographical footprint of each site. This in itself is striking; if the visual footprint - zone of visual influence [ZVI] - were marked up, the full scale of the damage being done to Scotland’s landscapes would be evident.

Northumberland and Newcastle Society - 'Summary of proposals for sites in Northumberland'. A locations map can be downloaded from the Summary page.

RESTATS - 'Renewable Energy STATisticS database.' From DECC (formerly BERR/DTI) department. NB The mapping facility that was provided on this site has now been shut down for some time and is showing the following message: “This feature is currently not available for now.” [Sic].

Renewable Energy and Environmental issues

ABS Energy Research - 'The Wind Power Report' (August, 2006). “The Wind Power Report is the most important we have produced to date; providing the most comprehensive study of the wind power market today.”(PDF summary; full report costs £830!).

'The Visual Issue' - Architech Animation Studios (UK) Ltd. (April, 2007). "For over a decade, windfarm visualisations have been the subject of controversy. Many communities across Scotland believe that the photomontages presented in the Environmental Statements are misleading and do not provide an accurate prediction of visual impact.
This paper endeavours to lift the veil of technical complexity to give you the facts behind the issue and the new SNH guidance" [SNH guidance also informs ES work in England & Wales]. Available as PDF download from site.

Wind turbine accident data from Caithness Windfarm Information Forum. Though wind turbines are better known for killing birds and bats than humans, there are many more accidents than the industry admits to.

Centre for Policy Studies - Lodge, Tony. ‘Wind Chill, Why wind energy will not fill the UK’s energy gap’, June 2008. (PDF download)

Center for Politiske Studier (CEPOS) - ‘Wind Energy, The Case of Denmark’, September 2009. (PDF download)

Centre for rural Economics, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne - DP 6, 'Foot and Mouth - five Years On.' Important paper on the failure of rural regeneration after FMD.(PDF download)

Country Guardian - "Country Guardian is the National Campaign to oppose wind turbines in Britain's precious landscapes and promote energy conservation." Country Guardian oppose all turbine developments and their views and articles reflect this position.

Country Land & Business Association (CLA) - 'Renewable Energy - more than wind?' 2005. The CLA's policy analysis and recommendations on renewables.

Climate change and energy - CPRE Campaigns.

Council for Science and Technology Report on UK Electricity Supply. (May, 2005) - 'The Council for Science and Technology (CST) is the UK government's top-level advisory body on science and technology policy issues.'

Darmstadt Manifesto on the Exploitation of Wind Energy in Germany. (September, 1998) - Manifesto signed by large number of academics and intellectuals in Germany.

'Tilting at Windmills: The economics of wind Power' by Professor David Simpson, The David Hume Institute (Occasional Papers, 65). (April, 2004) - "This paper asks whether the economic analysis of this source of energy really justifies such a major role and whether alternative policy options should be considered." [PDF file]

Den Brook Wind Farm Judicial Review. (March, 2008) - Renewable Energy Systems (RES) had been given approval to build nine 400 ft high wind turbines in mid-Devon’s Den Brook Valley. Planning permission was originally refused by the local Council, but was overturned on appeal.
A challenge was successfully made to the decision of the Inspector. The Secretary of State quashed the unlawful planning permission and the application will now have to go back to the Planning Inspectorate to determine the next step.
The SoS conceded the Den Brook Team’s appeal on the noise grounds alone but the Court granted permission to appeal on the other ground, namely that the planning inspector, as part of the overall planning balance, must consider the actual likely electricity contribution of the particular site.

DTI/HMG 'The Energy Challenge', (July, 2006) - Government Energy Review report. Announced new nuclear programme and DTI's preferred option of banding the widely criticised Renewables Obligation. [PDF File]

E.ON Netz Wind Report 2005 [PDF Download or order] - E.ON Netz GmbH is responsible for the electricity transport grid of the E.ON Group in Germany. It has over 40% of German wind power capacity in its area, with 7,050 MW of installed wind power; it is one of the largest electricity grid operators in Europe.

‘The Case Against Wind Farms’ (2006 edition), by Dr John Etherington, Emeritus Reader in Ecology at the University of Wales, Cardiff. “Since his retirement from the University in 1990, he has devoted himself to researching the implications of intermittently available renewable electricity generation, in particular wind power. He is a Thomas Huxley Medallist at the Royal College of Science and a former co-editor of the International Journal of Ecology.” (PDF download from Country Guardian website).

'The Wind Farm Scam', by Dr John Etherington. - This 300 page paperback provides a well argued case against large scale wind power generation. Already on its second printing, it can be ordered directly from the publisher (click here).
The publishers are offering bulk discounts to groups and individuals: 1 copy - £7.99 per copy + postage; 2-4 copies - £6.99 per copy + postage; 5 copies and over - £5.99 per copy + postage. NB Special rates available ONLY via this email address: marketing@stacey-international.co.uk

House of Lords, Select Committee on Economic Affairs, 'The Economics of Climate Change'. (2nd Report of Session 2005-06) - "Given the wide array of potential technologies ... we are surprised that the Government’s Energy White Paper should place such emphasis on just one technology, wind energy."

'Debating the true cost of wind power electricity'European Process Engineer Magazine
"In a report published on 10 March [2006], the UK-based Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) reveals that electricity from offshore wind farms, currently the most viable renewable source, will cost at least twice as much as that from conventional sources."

FELLS. ‘A REBUTTAL FOR SEEKERS OF THE TRUTH of the British Wind Energy Association’s TOP MYTHS ABOUT WIND ENERGY’, June 2008. - “FELLS (Friends of Eden, Lakeland & Lunesdale Scenery) is a voluntary organisation founded in 2000 to help local groups protect the North West landscape from unwarranted industrial development, especially wind farms.”

FELLS. ‘Carbon Dioxide “Savings” from Wind Farms. (V7, June 2009) ’, June 2008. - “The basis on which the calculation of CO2 savings from a wind farm is made has changed over time. This note sets out the historical development and current practice.”

‘A guide to calculating the carbon dioxide debt and payback time for wind farms’. Dr M J Hall, FRSC, FIBiol. August 2006. Renewable Energy Foundation (REF).
Dr Mike Hall presents a detailed account of the various factors in the CO2 payback time for turbines, including calculations for peat degradation. (PDF download).

Industrial Wind Action - Informative US site with excellent foreign news coverage that can be filtered by country. “Industrial Wind Action was formed to counteract the misleading information promulgated by the wind energy industry and various environmental groups. Support for this effort comes from a large and diversified group of environmentalists, energy experts, and ordinary citizens.”.

House of Lords, Economic Affairs Committee, ‘The Economics of Renewable Energy’, (HL Paper No. 195-I), 12 November 2008.

‘HARDtalk’: James Lovelock (BBC iPlayer) - Stephen Sackur talks to James Lovelock, the celebrated scientist and writer. Useful summary of his Gaia theory, views on climate change and thoughts on the utility of wind power.

John Muir Trust - The UK's leading wild land conservation charity believes that, "industrial-scale wind developments, are a major threat to our rapidly diminishing wild land".

The ‘How to’ Guide to Siting Wind Turbines to Prevent Health Risks From Sound, by George W. Kamperman and Richard R. James [PDF file].
“ Our formal presentation and paper on this topic ... was presented to the Institute of Noise Control Engineers (INCE) at its July Noise-Con 2008 conference in Detroit, MI, [...] The formal paper covered the community noise studies performed in response to complaints, research on health issues related to wind turbine noise, critiques of noise studies performed by consultants working for the wind developer, and research/technical papers on wind turbine sound immissions and related topics.”

KWAG - Kentish Weald Action Group - William Hyde, DFH, C.ENG, Fellow IET and John Webley, Chairman, KWAG. ‘ When The Wind Stops’. Interesting paper on levels of backup required for wind power generation.

Peter Lang, ‘Cost and Quantity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Avoided by Wind Generation’, 16 February, 2009. Paper by an Australian power engineer (PDF file).

David MacKay, ‘Sustainable Energy Without Hot Air’. - “For anyone with influence on energy policy, whether in government, business or a campaign group, this book should be compulsory reading. This is a technically precise and readable account of the challenges ahead.” (Tony Juniper Former Executive Director, Friends of the Earth (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and Vice Chair, Friends of the Earth International).

Elizabeth Mann, ‘The Democratic Deficit’ - Examines aspects of the political/planning background of the wind power business in North East England.

Dr V.C. Mason, ‘Wind power in Denmark’, 2006. - "Almost a fifth of the electricity produced annually in Denmark is generated by wind, yet only about 6% of the country’s electricity demand is satisfied directly from this source. Possibly two-thirds of its wind power output cannot be used to satisfy domestic needs at the moment of generation, and has to be exported (often at reduced prices) to preserve the integrity of the grid. Savings in carbon emissions are minimal. Public opposition and reduced subsidies have halted the deployment of on-shore wind turbines for the time being, but political and commercial interests are pressing to integrate much larger amounts of wind power into radically altered domestic and international transmission systems.."

National Audit Office Report on Renewables by the Comptroller and Auditor General. (11 February, 2005) - "... the level of support provided by consumers is in excess of that needed by many onshore wind schemes."

National Grid, 'Fluctuating Unpredictable Output and Standby Capacity' - '2006 Great Britain Seven Year Statement'. - "... for larger wind penetrations, the wind capacity that can be taken as firm is not proportional to the expected wind energy production. It follows that the electricity market will need to maintain in service a larger proportion of conventional generation capacity despite reduced load factors.."

National Trust - In their 'A call for the wild' campaign, NT used to state that: "the modest benefits of wind turbines must be carefully measured against their environmental and social costs".
In a dramatic U-turn, the National Trust have now abandoned this policy and are selling the use of their name to one of the most predatory of onshore wind developers, RWE NPower, offering a so-called a ‘green’ electricity tariff [see recent Observer article].
Under this scheme NPower pay NT for every customer they sign up. This scheme is being sold on the basis of NPower's very limited involvement in offshore wind and hydro, no mention of NPower's many onshore wind projects, some of which actually threaten the setting of properties and landscapes held in trust by NT!

National Wind Watch - Informative US site with excellent foreign news coverage that can be filtered by country. “A nonprofit organization that promotes awareness of the negative impacts of industrial wind energy development on our environment, economy, and quality of life.
We receive no support from any industry or political interests. Our funding comes only from concerned individuals.”.

Natural England - ‘NECR032 - Investigating the impacts of windfarm development on peatlands in England.’

Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Limited (NFPA) - Current auction prices for ROC’s.

The Northumberland and Newcastle Society - 'For our future heritage'. The Society has made a real effort to assess and report on the Klondike wind rush in Northumberland: see its 'Summary of proposals for sites in Northumberland'.

Open Europe, ‘The EU Climate Action and Renewable Energy Package: Are we about to be locked into the wrong policy?’. October 2008. - “Open Europe has produced the first independent estimate of the cost of the CAREP.”

Oxford Energy Institute Comment on SDC Report. (May, 2005) - Malcolm Keay of OEI comments on the recent Sustainable Development Commission report on wind power generation. - "the report presents a distorted picture, exaggerating the benefits of wind power and underestimating the costs."

Parsons Brinckerhoff, ‘Powering the Future, Mapping our low carbon path to 2050’ (December 2009) - “Powering the Future is a comprehensive report by global engineering consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff. It focuses on the implications of meeting the UK government’s carbon reduction targets for 2050 and highlights critical steps for tackling CO2 reduction.”

Parsons Brinckerhoff, ‘Powering the Nation, 2010 Update’ (March 2010) - “The Powering the Nation report reflects recent major changes in the economy and in the power plant market. First issued in 2006 - and updated in 2008 - the report is used by both the private and public sectors as a benchmark guide for power generation costs.”

Public Accounts Committee Report on Renewable Energy (15 September 2005). (PDF file) - Parliament's Public Accounts committee criticises the existing renewables subsidy system as both wasteful and unjustifiably expensive.

‘Pöyry Report’, Pöyry Energy Consulting. ‘Impact of intermittency: how wind variability could change the shape of the British and Irish electricity markets, Summary Report. July 2009.’

Royal Academy of Engineering, ‘Engineering a low-carbon built environment’ - "The UK will not be able to achieve its target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 unless it urgently addresses carbon emissions from the built environment, ..." (1.46Mb PDF download).

Ramblers' Association - "We are not calling for a ‘ban’ on windfarms. Instead, we want government to change its policy so that power companies are encouraged to invest in a range of different technologies, and it simply becomes unnecessary to focus only on large-scale wind turbine construction."

Renewable Energy Foundation (REF) - "REF encourages the development of renewable energy and energy conservation whilst safeguarding the landscapes of the United Kingdom from unsustainable industrialisation."

‘Economic impacts from the promotion of renewable energies: The German experience.’ - RWI (Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung).

RSPB Policy on Wind Farms - Downloadable Brochure (PDF file). Sets out RSPB policy that has been both ignored and contravened in the case of ‘Moorsyde’ and other applications (See MAG's Birds page).

Scottish Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF) . - "SSEF procures and disseminates research relevant to achieving a sustainable pattern of energy consumption and production in Scotland."

'The Dash for Wind - West Denmark’s Experience and UK’s Energy Aspirations', by Hugh Sharman, Incoteco (Denmark) ApS. (PDF file)
Interesting examination of the Danish experience of large scale wind power by an energy consultant. Examines the implications of large scale wind power for the UK supply system.

UK Energy Policy: The Small Business Perspective & The Impact on the Rural Economy. Researched and written by Candida Whitmill for, and on behalf of, the Small Business Council, February 2006. [PDF file]

The Scottish Wind Assessment Project - 'An ongoing programme of research which seeks to collate existing studies and commission new research to promote a thorough investigation of the claims made for and against the use of wind-generated energy.'
Interesting reports on Scottish wind power build; the subsidy regime's effect on various alternative energy sectors and an analysis of some of the so-called surveys and polls (Scottish) relating to wind power.

Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) - 'Wind Power in the UK', 19 May 2005 - This report from Jonathan Porritt's Government advisory group is a wildly optimistic account of the potential for wind power generation and is invariably the report that the BWEA, FOE and Greenpeace reference, while never mentioning one of its conclusions that, "It would be unrealistic to assume that wind energy would displace any nuclear capacity,".(p35). Many of its claims are now discredited both by real world evidence and by subsequent academic papers from less credulous sources. It is the subject of a critique by Malcolm Keay of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (PDF file).

The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research - 'Ensuring new and renewable energy can meet electricity demand: security of decarbonised electricity systems' (Technical paper 30, 2005). - "The performed capacity adequacy studies for the mid-term future UK electricity scenarios clearly show that the capacity value of wind generation plant is limited. Analysis was carried out for a wide range of wind penetrations to examine the generating capacity of conventional plant that can be displaced by wind, while maintaining a specified security level. We observed that wind generation only displaces a relatively modest amount of conventional plant, which means that in order to maintain the same level of security, a significant capacity of conventional plant will still be required."

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. - ‘Study of the effects on employment of public aid to renewable energy sources’, March 2009.
States that, “since 2000 Spain spent €571,138 to create each ‘green job’, including subsidies of more than €1 million per wind industry job.” and that, “The study calculates that the programs creating those jobs also resulted in the destruction of nearly 110,500 jobs elsewhere in the economy, or 2.2 jobs destroyed for every ‘green job’ created.”
The methodology and findings of this report have been heavily criticised by many experts - should be treated with caution.

Wind Turbines and Health issues

Noise radiation from wind turbines installed near homes: effects on health.With an annotated review of the research and related issues.' February, 2007. Barbara J Frey, BA, MA & Peter J Hadden, BSc, FRICS. - Interesting survey of noise research and reports of effects on health, property prices etc. (Large PDF download).

‘Sleep disturbance and wind turbine noise’ June 2009. Dr Christopher Hanning, BSc, MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP, FRCA, MD, Honorary Consultant in Sleep Disorders Medicine to the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, based at Leicester General Hospital, having retired in September 2007 as Consultant in Sleep Disorders Medicine. This report was produced for Stop Swinford Wind Farm Action Group (SSWFAG). (PDF download).

‘Wind Turbine Syndrome’. Nina Pierpont, MD, PhD, has undertaken research into the health problems reported by people living close to wind turbines. She has written a number of articles and has published a peer-reviewed book on the subject.

Non-wind Renewable technologies

Examples of Danish biomass plant - "The largest output of sustainable energy in Denmark comes from biomass, that is, from the burning of, or the production of combustible gases from, hay, wood chips, manure from domestic animals, and garbage. Biomass accounts for 80% of the Danish production of sustainable energy." (Danish Govt. Portal)

Energy Power Resource Ltd (EPR) - Large scale biomass plant: "Ely Power Station at 38MW, is the largest straw burning power station in the world generating over 270GWh each year."

Marine Renewable Energy Devices (BWEA page) - Brief survey of some of the emerging marine technologies.

Marine Current Turbines Ltd (MCT) - "MCT installed the world’s first offshore tidal turbine near Lynmouth off the coast of Devon in May 2003 and is now completing installation of the world’s first commercial scale tidal turbine, the 1.2 MW SeaGen, in Strangford Narrows in Northern Ireland. This is the forerunner for a commercial product soon to be widely deployed in the vital quest for clean energy from the oceans."

Solar Century - “the UK’s leading solar energy company.“

Energy Conservation and Carbon Saving

Low Carbon Buildings Programme (DTI) - "The low carbon buildings programme will provide grants for microgeneration technologies to householders, community organisations, schools, the public and not for profit sector and private businesses."
Information on technologies and grant aid; work with the EST (above).
If you want a grant to put a turbine on your roof, this is the place (you are strongly advised to check the wind figures first!).
PS The LCBP grant allocation for March 2007 ran out within 1 hour of the start of the month! Now 'restructured' after wide-scale ridicule in the press; but still hugely under-funded.

The Carbon Trust - "The Carbon Trust helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions, and supports the development of low carbon technologies.."

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) - The original DIY green technology centre. Still a bit naive about the reality of 'big wind', but lots of useful info on energy saving at the domestic level.

The Energy Saving Trust - "A non-profit organisation, funded by government and the private sector. Set up after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, we have two main goals: 1. To achieve the sustainable use of energy 2. To cut carbon dioxide emissions, one of the key contributors to climate change".

Renewable Energy UK - "Here you will find a wide range of up to date information about alternative energy generation. Our main focus is on wind power and solar power for the home, but you will also find details on topics as varied as electronics and biodiesel recipes."
Read their information on domestic turbines before you rush to B&Q! (Update: B & Q have stopped selling domestic turbines).

The Wind Industry

British Wind Energy Association - BWEA - Wind industry trade body.

European Wind Energy Association - EWEA.

American Wind Energy Association - AWEA.

Politics & Planning - National

BIS - Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (formerly BERR) - BIS sets policy for business, innovation and regional development, amongst other policy areas.

CLG - Department for Communities and Local Government - CLG sets policy on planning, building and the environment, amongst other policy areas.

DECC - Department for Energy and Climate Change - DECC has wide brief on Energy and Climate Change policy.

DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Defra is the department responsible for policy and regulations on the environment, food and rural affairs.

Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Limited (NFPA) - “Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Limited (NFPA) has been involved in renewable energy since 1990 - through administration of generation contracts awarded under the Non-Fossil Fuel Orders (NFFOs). More recently, its sister company, NFPA Scotland Limited, has become responsible for the administration of contracts awarded through the Scottish Renewables Order (SROs) - the NFFO equivalent in Scotland.Regular on-line auctions are held for the sale of power and associated Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs), Climate Change Levy Exemption Certificates (LECs) and Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin Certificates (REGOs).”

Ofgem - The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.

There is considerable crossover on environmental issues between government departments, but Ed Miliband’s DECC seems to be ‘primus inter pares’.

Politics & Planning - Regional

GONE - Government Office North East. “Representing central government across North East England [...], we represent ten central government departments across the entire region.”
Government Office Review (22/03/06): “conducted jointly by HM Treasury and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now called the Department for Communities and Local Goverment) and engaged a wide range of stakeholders including local government, regional institutions, Whitehall and the Government Offices themselves.
The Review found broad support for a more strategic role for GOs in future. A programme of transformational change will help GOs to streamline their role and build on their strengths to become more influential bodies.”

North East Assembly (NEA). Previously the regional strategic planning authority.
The North East Assembly (NEA) closed on 1 April 2009, with local government reorganisation. This saw the North East move to 12 unitary local authorities and the Government’s sub national review of economic development and regeneration, which called for regional assemblies to end by 2010. Statutory responsibilities will continue until the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill is enacted. Once this happens the development, implementation and monitoring of the new single Regional Strategy will become the joint responsibility of the Association of North East Council’s Leaders Board and One North East (ONE).
See the Association of North East Councils (ANEC) website.
The various wind capacity studies carried out by Ove Arup for the NEA are now available on the ANEC website.

One NorthEast - “One NorthEast is the Regional Development Agency (RDA) covering North East England.”

NEEP - North East Energy Partnership. “Takes the lead on developing and overseeing regional energy issues and is responsible for the co-ordination of the regional delivery of Energy White Paper targets.”

NEREG - North East Renewable Energy Group. “NEREG takes the regional lead for co-ordinating activity in developing renewable energy installations and industry in the North East.”
“The North East Renewable Energy Group (NEREG) has set up a wind subgroup to assess wind issues in the North East. This group does not discuss or consider specific applications. The group provides a neutral forum [hardly neutral when chaired by Dan Grierson of TNEI and dominated by wind industry representatives] to assess the potential for the North East in meeting the targets set out in the Regional Renewable Energy Strategy, which informed the Regional Spatial Strategy, and to commission work to gather the information and data needed to inform Regional wind activity. In these documents, the Region's wind resource was identified, along with the level of development needed to help the Region meet its target of 10% of electricity consumed to be generated by renewable sources by 2010. This group brings together a number of stakeholders, public bodies, local authorities, developers, consultants together to look at the gaps in information and the barriers to developing the Regional wind resource.” [our emphasis]

“The Group is chaired by Dan Grierson of TNEI Services Ltd.”

Update: Dan Grierson now works as Project Director for Novera Energy Ltd., wind farm developers.

TNEI - “The Northern Energy Initiative (TNEI) is a European Centre for the development and promotion of energy technologies. It enjoys support from the UK Government, European Regional Development Fund, EU, Regional Development Agency and key energy related businesses in the North East of England.” (TNEI website 2006).
TNEI typifies the crossover between publically funded QUANGO’s and commercial consultancies in the renewables sector:
“TNEI has exceptional capability in relation to wind farm consenting and grid connection.” (TNEI website).

Local Political Representatives

Alan Beith, MP

Northumberland County Councillors

Parish Councils

Groups, North East England:

BAAG - Bolam and Area Action Group -
“NPower have submitted a scoping report that proposes up to seven giant wind turbines as high as a 40 storey building just a few hundred metres from the tranquil Teesdale village of Bolam in County Durham. We believe this will destroy the peaceful nature of our village for ever.” (‘Stobhill’ turbine array).

CREDIT - Campaign for Responsible Energy Development In Tynedale -
"Key aim is to protect the Tynedale landscape, culture and heritage by opposing inappropriate industrial scale development in the area, including wind power stations".

SOUL - 'Save Our Unspoilt Landscape ' opposes the application by Catamount/Force 9 to build an array of six 110.5m. [362 ft.] turbines at Barmoor (within 5 km. of the ‘Moorsyde’ proposal) in the beautiful, unspoilt landscape of North Northumberland.

SPAG - Seven Parishes Action Group - “SPAG is a body jointly established by the Seven Parish Councils of Bishopton, Great Stainton, Little Stainton, Sadberge, East and West Newbiggin, Great Burdon and Redmarshall [between Darlington and Stockton, Co. Durham]. It represents the lives of well over 2000 local residents.”

WACA - West Ancroft Community Action (WACA) is a group formed to fight the application by E.ON UK to build an array of eight 115m. [377 ft.] turbines at Ancroft Northmoor (directly contiguous with the ‘Moorsyde’ site) in the beautiful, unspoilt landscape of North Northumberland.

Wingates NOT Wind Farms - “‘Wingates Not Wind Farms’ action group is set up to fight the proposals by Novera Energy, Coronation Power and RES (UK) Ltd in their plans to build several wind farm sites which would envelope Wingates village and the surrounding area.”

Groups, Scottish Borders and Lothians:

Penicuik Environment Protection Association (PEPA). - "Formed by residents of Penicuik, Carlops and Howgate communities to protect Auchencorth Moss near Penicuik from E.ON's proposal to build 18 x 2.5 MW wind turbines."

Broadmeadows Action Group - Group opposing proposals by GreenPower for thirteen 112 metre (367 ft.) turbines near Yarrowford. The group are also opposing AMEC's application for the proposed Minch Moor array of fourteen 100 metre (328 ft.) turbines on forest enterprise land near Innerleithen. These schemes would dominate the Yarrow and Tweed valleys and severely impact on hillwalking routes such as the Southern Upland Way.

Dunion Hill Conservation Group - Group opposing a proposal by Windjen for eight 101 metre turbines on Dunion Hill and Black Law near Jedburgh. Refused by SBC 10/9/07 and at appeal 9/04/09 (first refusal on appeal in SBC area).

SOS - Save Our Scenery (Earlshaugh windfarm) - “Save Our Scenery is a campaign group established in May 2008 in response to an application by Wind Energy (Earlshaugh) Ltd to put 36 wind turbines - each over 400 ft high - in a site between the Devil's Beef Tub, Hartfell and the source of the River Tweed.”

Save the Lammermuirs - Group fighting further damage to the Lammermuir Hills with huge turbine arrays, particularly Aikengall II, a proposal for another thirty 145m turbines on the Monynut ridge.
The 125m turbines of Aikengall 1, the 100m turbines at Crystal Rig (now being massively expanded) and the small (78m) turbines at Black Hill, near Duns already skyline views from the 'Moorsyde'/Toft Hill/Barmoor area.

Association to Protect the Environment at Leadburn (APEAL). - Group formed to oppose a proposal to build five 125m turbines at Spurlens Rig, between the Pentland and Moorfoot Hills, just south of Leadburn.

Protect Your Cheviots. - Opposing a proposal by Vattenfall to build six 110m turbines at Whitton Loch, near Morebattle. This scheme, on the edge of the Cheviot Hills, would blight a treasured Borders landscape and marr views from Carter Bar, the Pennine Way, St Cuthbert’s Way, Peniel Heugh and Rubers Law, and would be highly visible from areas of the Merse and the Tweed Valley.

Some Scottish Campaign Groups:

AWF - ArgyllWindFarms.com - “Facilitating an informed debate on the development of more Wind Farms in Argyll.
The largest member based wind farm lobby group in Scotland, AWF are in favour of renewable energy, but oppose inappropriately sited wind farms or too many wind farms in one area. AWF are increasingly concerned by the sheer number of wind farms being planned for the area.”

ASWAG - The Amulree & Strathbraan Windfarm Action Group - “Set up by residents at the start of 2004 as a result of proposals to build multiple large-scale wind farms in and around Amulree and Strathbraan in the golden triangle at the very heart of Scotland, with Aberfeldy to the north, Dunkeld to the east and Crieff to the west.”

Fairwind - “A wind factory information site for Ardnamurchan, Morvern and Mull.”.

Auchtermuchty Landscape and Environment Group - Opposing an application by Energie Kontor for five 100 metre high turbines on the outskirts of Auchtermuchty, in Fife.
Refused and turned down again on appeal, February 2008.

Barthol Chapel Wind Farm Action Group “Five planning applications [near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire] for full-size (90m or 300ft) wind turbines were published on 31st October 2006 with virtually no publicity or local consultation.
Whatever your opinion of wind power in general, this application marks a new type of wind farm, not sited in remote landscapes, but right on top of rural settlements in an attractive area of rolling countryside, where many people live and work.

Caithness Windfarm Information Forum - “is a group of people concerned by the potential destruction of the unique heritage of Caithness and Sutherland through industrial windfarm development for no material reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and no significant contribution to climate change.”

CADEAP - Ceres and District Environment & Amenity Protection - “.A group dedicated to provide support and advice to those concerned about the proposal by EnergieKontor to build a wind farm at Gathercauld between Ceres and Baldinnie and to direct a constructive and informed campaign against this proposal.”

CaRES - Cowal and Renewable Energy Sense - “Following news, in 2006, of an explosion in plans to build wind farms on or near the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and on the Clyde coastline, a number of concerned individuals formed a group (Cowal and Renewable Energy Sense) to alert the community to these plans and to voice opposition to inappropriately sited clusters of wind turbines or too many wind turbines in and around the area.”

CAWT - Cuminestown Against Wind Turbines - Group opposing several proposals to install over 20 industrial wind turbines up to 100m (328 ft) high around Cuminestown, New Byth and New Pitsligo in north-east Aberdeenshire.

www.stopdunmaglass.com - “A giant wind farm will straddle the wild hills between Glenfiddich & Glenlivet irreparably damaging an Area of Great Landscape Value, just a couple of miles from the boundary of The Cairngorm National Park.”

SOS - Save Our Scenery (Earlshaugh windfarm) - “Save Our Scenery is a campaign group established in May 2008 in response to an application by Wind Energy (Earlshaugh) Ltd to put 36 wind turbines - each over 400 ft high - in a site between the Devil's Beef Tub, Hartfell and the source of the River Tweed.”

EVAG - Endrick Valley Action Group - Group opposing plans by NPower to build nine 125m (410 ft) turbines on Ballindalloch Muir, West Stirlingshire, near the village of Balfron and only 1.3 miles from where more than 1000 children are taught in the local secondary, primary and nursery schools.

Fairwind - “A wind factory information site for Ardnamurchan, Morvern and Mull.”.

Friends of the Braes - “Friends of the Braes was set up by neighbours of the River Teith Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the light of the increasingly serious environmental impact of the Braes of Doune wind farm near Stirling..”.

FoF - Friends of the Forest - Group opposing a scheme to build 11 turbines, each 413 ft (126m) high, in what would be left of Montreathmont forest, in the historic heartland of Angus.
“The Montreathmont Wind Power Project brings us one step closer to the end of Bonnie Scotland” - David Bellamy 04/03/05.

GLARE - Galloway Landscape And Renewable Energy - “launched in November 2004 by a group of concerned Galloway residents in reaction to the proliferation of proposals & planning applications to build enormous wind farms (power stations) in Dumfries and Galloway.”

Highlands before Pylons - “A voluntary organisation whose aim is to protect and conserve the beautiful landscapes and natural habitats of the Highlands, for the benefit of local residents, visitors, and future generations.”

Ladymoor Wind Factory Action Group - “Ladymoor Renewable Energy Project is the largest onshore windfarm proposal for mainland Scotland (so far) and is being promoted by Wind Hydrogen Ltd (a subsidary of a private Australian firm). The proposal consists of 125 turbines each standing at a height of 125m (410ft) - this is one of the eight applications thought to consist of almost 300 turbines in the Regional Park [Clyde-Muirshiel Regional Park] area.”

Save the Lammermuirs - Group fighting further damage to the Lammermuir Hills with huge turbine arrays, particularly Aikengall II, a proposal for another thirty 145m turbines on the Moneynut ridge.
The 125m turbines of Aikengall 1, the 100m turbines at Crystal Rig (now being massively expanded) and the small (78m) turbines at Black Hill, near Duns already skyline views from the 'Moorsyde'/Toft Hill/Barmoor area.

Stop Lochluichart: 'A Wind Farm Too Far' - Fighting Anglo-Dutch developer Infinergy/LZN's plans to build 22 turbines, up to 410ft high, on the Lochluichart Estate, near Garve in Wester Ross.

gleninfo.co.uk (Mile Hill windfarm) - Opposing an application by Airtricity for six 100.5m wind turbines, 2 anemometer masts, 7 Borrow Pits (quarries), tracks and other infrastructure at Mile Hill, nr. Kirkton of Kingoldrum, Angus.

FoF - Friends of the Forest - Group opposing a scheme to build 11 turbines, each 413 ft (126m) high, in what would be left of Montreathmont forest, in the historic heartland of Angus.
“The Montreathmont Wind Power Project brings us one step closer to the end of Bonnie Scotland” - David Bellamy 04/03/05.

Moorland Without Turbines - Group opposing the hundreds of turbines that are being proposed on Lewis. Scottish Natural Heritage describe Lewis as “a landscape of high natural heritage sensitivity and of world, international and national importance”. This scheme is almost beyond comprehension in its scope for damage to the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area (SPA) – a European environmental designation. The moorland is also a Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) and recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. the developers are also showing scant regard for the human environment and culture of Lewis.
If the Scottish Executive consents this proposal, nothing and nowhere is safe from industrial wind power development. we might as well tear up all landscape designations and hand over our most valued landscapes to the speculators.
“From the total number of representations received, 59 were recorded in support and 11,397 against the development.” (Parliamentary answer to Shona Baird, MSP)

SOS Moray - Save Our Scenic Moray - “12% of Scotland's wind turbines (89) are already located in Moray or close to the the border of Moray. ... however there are now proposals for 4 more wind farms IN MORAY, including a proposal to site 71 of the tallest turbines yet seen in Scotland slap in the middle of one of the most pristine areas of unspoiled wilderness still remaining in Moray.... The Glenfiddich and Blackwater hills, bordering on the Cairngorm National Park.”

Wind Farm Free Mull - “Argyll & Bute Council’s Finalised Draft local plan has identified Mull as a constrained area for windfarms. Mull is therefore considered to be an area that is essentially incompatible with commercial windfarm development (4 or more turbines).”

Stop Mull of Kintyre Wind Farm - “A Landscape Horror: Kilchattan Wind Farm would create an industrial backdrop and dominate the main settlement area and the surrounding low-lying farmland and coastal area.”
“A Site Outwith The Preferred Area Of Search: The proposed site lies within a ‘Constrained Area’ for the development of wind farms as detailed in Argyll & Bute’s Finalised Draft Local Plan. Argyll & Bute Council’s Finalised Draft local plan has identified Mull as a constrained area for windfarms. Mull is therefore considered to be an area that is essentially incompatible with commercial windfarm development (4 or more turbines).”

NAG - Nigg Awareness Group - Falck Renewables intend building five 125 metre (410 ft.) turbines on the Hill of Nigg, in Easter Ross.
“NAG is a growing group of local residents, representing a wide cross-section of the communities in the Hill of Nigg area and the Tarbat peninsula.
We feel strongly about saving the unique and beautiful landscape we are so lucky to enjoy and the setting for the magical Pictish sculpture and artefacts treasured by our communities and that draw so many visitors to our area.”

Sustainable Shetland - “"Sustainable Shetland was formed in February 2008 in response to the Viking Energy wind farm project [150 turbines, up to 145m] in Shetland."”

SWAG - Skye Windfarm Action Group - “"The aim of SWAG is to stop any windfarm development on Skye and where possible help to stop any windfarm developments in Scotland. The Enterprise and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament called SWAG to present evidence showing the need for a moratorium on all windfarm developments in Scotland pending a strategic plan for Scotlands's energy production."”

SWOG - Spittal Windfarm Opposition Group - “Formed in August 2004 by residents living around Spittal Hill in Central Caithness when we first saw the developers' scoping plans for a major windfarm on Spittal Hill.
The current plan is for 30 turbines 110 metres high, covering an area of about 3.43 square kilometres or 847 acres which, because of its size, will be submitted to the Scottish Executive rather than to Highland Council.”

SEAG - Standingfauld Environmental Action Group - Group opposing a proposal by West Coast Energy Ltd. for eight 100m turbines at Standingfauld and Cairn Farms, just a few kilometres from the villages of Braco, Blackford, Muthill, Crieff and Auchterarder in Perthshire.

Protect Your Cheviots. - Group opposing a proposal by Vattenfall to build six 110m turbines at Whitton Loch, near Morebattle, in the Scottish Borders. This scheme, on the edge of the Cheviot Hills, would blight a treasured Borders landscape and marr views from Carter Bar, the Pennine Way, St Cuthbert’s Way, Peniel Heugh and Rubers Law, and would be highly visible from areas of the Merse and the Tweed Valley.

Some English and Welsh Campaign Groups:

A BLOT - Group opposing the Armistead scheme by Banks Developments for six 100m (328 ft) turbines on land adjacent to the B6254, Kirkby Lonsdale to Kendal road in South Lakeland.

Artists Against Wind Farms - A group formed by artist Christine Lovelock, daughter of Gaia theorist Dr James Lovelock

Stop Aston Wind Farm - A group of residents of Aston and Dutton, near Frodsham, Cheshire, fighting to prevent four enormous wind turbines, each over 400 feet tall, being erected on North Cheshire Green Belt land in the Weaver Valley. Application refused, decision has been appealed.
“The Group has reformed, and its key objective now is to ensure that the overwhelming arguments against this wind farm in this highly visible and sensitive location are properly and professionally presented to the Public Inquiry.”

STOPstw - Stop Severn Trent Water - STOPstw (formerly Burstonwind) was formed to lead the fight against Severn Trent Water’s proposed three 132m (433 ft) high wind turbines on land at Aston Hall Farm, adjacent to the River Trent, canal and wetlands between Aston by Stone and Burston, Staffordshire.

BWAG - Baumber Wind Farm Action Group - Group formed to oppose a proposal by Enertrag for eight 125m. turbines at Chase Farm, Baumber, near Horncastle in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

BLOT - Belvoir Locals Oppose Turbines - “The objective of BLOT is to oppose the proposed development of industrial wind turbines or wind farms in the area of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire popularly known as the Vale of Belvoir; and in particular the proposed development in the area bounded by the villages of Bottesford, Normanton, Staunton, Long Bennington, Foston, Allington, Sedgebrook, Muston and Easthorpe.”
Appeal against refusal of Infinergy’s scheme for ten 125.5m turbines at Thackson’s Well rejected 16/11/08. Developer is threatening further action.

Stop Benington Wind Farm Action Group - “A proposal by R.H. Bott & Sons to erect three large (120m) wind turbines on High Elms Lane, between Benington, Aston and Watton-at-Stone in Hertfordshire.”

BWFOG - Berrier Wind Farm Opposition Group, - An action group opposing the construction of 9 huge wind turbines on Berrier Hill, near Blencathra.
“Saddleback, Blencathra is one of the great fortress mountains of the Northern Lake District. It is majestic & seems wonderfully wild. This will be ruined should the proposed wind turbines at Berrier be supported.” Lord Melvyn Bragg.

BMPG - Betws Mountain Preservation Guide - Betws Mountain, (Mynydd y Betws in the Welsh language) overlooks the village of Betws, the town of Ammanford, the valleys of the rivers Amman and Loughor and the beautiful countryside of the County of Carmarthenshire. Developer Eco 2 proposes building sixteen, 100 metre (possibly larger) turbines on the mountain.

SBWT - Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines - “An action group dedicated to protect and conserve the landscape, tranquillity and wildlife of the Bickerton Hill area [of Cheshire] for the benefit of residents, visitors and local businesses.”

Stop Bicton Wind Farm - Group opposing a proposal by Broadview Energy for up to eight 125m turbines to the north west of Grafham Reservoir, nr. Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire.

BHATS - Billingborough & Horbling Against TurbineS - Group opposing a proposal by E.ON for seventeen 126.5m turbines at Billingborough Fen, near Billingborough, Lincolnshire.

BOLT - Birdsedge and district Opposition to Large wind Turbines - Group opposing a proposal for up five 360ft/110m turbines close to Birdsedge, a small village in the borough of Kirklees, near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

Blaen Bowi Action Group - Already suffering from three turbines: “Since being installed they have caused significant problems to local residents in terms of health, noise nuisance, disruption to TV signals and of course value of local property.” An application to double the number of turbines was defeated in October 2007 and is now being appealed.

BWFAG - Bleakhouse Wind Farm Action Group - Group opposing proposal by Harworth Power for three 102m turbines (i.e. 334 feet) at Bleak House on the southern edge of Cannock Chase District in Staffordshire. The land is open countryside and totally within the South Staffordshire Green Belt. It closely adjoins the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

SPAWF - Staffordshire Protest Against Wind Farm - Opposing a proposal by Harworth Power to erect 3 x 102m wind turbines at Bleak House, nr. Wimblebury, Cannock, Staffordshire.

BLOT - Bodmin and Lanivet Oppose Turbines, - An action group opposed to the proposed building of huge wind turbines in the Lanivet, Bodmin area in the beautiful countryside of North Cornwall.
Ecotricity wants to build at least six 330 feet (100 metre) wind-turbines in the Reperry Cross area, on the side of the hill stretching alongside the Bodmin bypass.

BLOT - Bozeat Lavendon Oppose Turbines - "We are the campaign organisation for the villages surrounding the proposed Windfarm Development by Npower at Nun Wood that will lay across the three counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire and will have an immediate and major impact on the villages of Bozeat (Northants), Harrold (Beds) and Lavendon (Bucks) along with many smaller villages and communities within the area."

BATTLE - Bradwell And Tillingham Tackling Lost Environment - NPower won an appeal (10.09.2007) against the refusal for ten 400 foot wind turbines between the villages of Bradwell on Sea and Tillingham, on the Dengie Peninsular in Essex. This has now been overturned by a High Court decision.
See also SIEGE below, who are fighting two further proposals in the area.

KNOll to Wind Farm - Proposal by Ecotricity for five 100 metre turbines which would dominate the Somerset Levels landscape and severely damage the historic landscape of Brent Knoll was rejected by a Planning Inspector on 15 January 2008, following a public inquiry triggered by Ecotricity's appeal against refusal by the LPA.

SBWF - Stop Brixworth Wind Farm - Group opposing the construction of six 410 ft turbines in a designated ‘Special Landscape Area’ and in close proximity to Brixworth [Northamptonshire] Saxon Church, the largest Saxon Building in Europe and an international heritage site.

Cefn Croes photo-gallery - Rape of an upland plateau - More grim reality - the destruction of a landscape as a turbine array is built. IF YOU LOOK AT NOTHING ELSE, LOOK AT THIS.

RATS - Residents Against TurbineS - Carland Cross Wind Farm Action Group - Group opposing a planning application submitted by Scottish Power, to replace the 15 existing 49m turbines next to the A30, near Truro, with ten 100m turbines on a much extended site on Newlyn Downs and adjacent farm land.

CARST - Communities Against Reagill and Sleagill Turbines - Group opposing proposal by Pure Renewable Energies Ltd for up to eleven 125m turbines, just a few hundred yards from the villages of Reagill and Sleagill, in Cumbria.

STOP - Stop Turbines On Peninsula - “Italian company Energia in Natura proposes to erect six enormous wind turbines on the beautiful Cartmel Peninsula, three on Stribers and three on Ellerside. Each would be 125 meters/410 feet high to the blade tip, about four times the height of Cartmel Priory or the Hoad Monument.”

ChART - Cheshire Against Rural Turbines - Group formed to oppose a proposal by NPower for 3 x 100m turbines at Oxheys Farm, Rushton, near Tarporley.

CAT - Chilla Against Turbines - Campaign drawing support from the communities of Halwill, Chilla, Black Torrington, Highampton, Odham, Northlew, Sheepwash, Shebbear and Beaworthy in North Devon which opposes plans by Scottish Power to build 15 large-scale (up to 125m.) wind turbines on Chilla Moor.

ATAC - Against Turbines At Chiplow - “ATAC is a group formed in August 2007 to fight the proposals by E.On UK to build a wind farm at Chiplow in West Norfolk, UK.”

SCAM - Save Coity And Mynydd James - “SCAM is a Local Action Group set up to protect the mountaintops of Coity and Mynydd James from invasion by windfarms.” Pennant Wind Energy Ventures Ltd has submitted an application for four 101m turbines, each measuring 101 metres on Mynnyd James mountain above Blaina and Cwmtillery, in Blaenau Gwent.

ACT - Against Congham Turbines - Group formed to respond to the Iberdrola's proposal for the erection of 26 x 2 MW turbines between Grimston and Hillington, near Kings Lynn, in Norfolk. Proposal in abeyance - landowner has withdrawn from scheme.

Cotton Farm Action Group - Group opposing a proposal by NPower to construct 8 massive wind turbines, up to 127m (416ft high), at Cotton Farm overlooking the Ouse Valley in Cambridgeshire.

Friends of Craven Landscape - Group fighting a proposal by EnergieKontor to build five 100m (328 ft)turbines at Brightenber Hill, a Special Landscape Area, between Gargrave and West Marton, about 6 miles from Skipton in Yorkshire. The area is a green oasis of rolling hills about 2.5 miles south of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and 3.5 miles east of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

DBJRG - Den Brook Judicial Review Group - Renewable Energy Systems (RES) have now (December 2009) been given approval to build nine 400 ft high wind turbines in mid-Devon's Den Brook Valley. Planning permission was originally refused by the local Council, but was overturned on appeal.
As a result of the Den Brook Valley Judicial Review Team’s legal actions, the Secretary of State quashed the unlawful planning permission. The application went back to the Planning Inspectorate and has now been approved.
The DBJRG (Den Brook Judicial Review Group) were responsible for uncovering how the government covered up the findings of the Hayes Mackenzie report on turbine noise.

DART - Dorset Against Rural Turbines - Opposing a proposal by Infinergy for six 125m (410ft) industrial wind turbines at East Stoke, near Wareham.

DTOG - Dunsland Turbines Opposition Group - Opposing Bolsterstone’s proposal to build four wind turbines at Dunsland Cross next to the village of Brandis Corner, between Holsworthy and Torrington in North Devon.

SEMWF - Stop East Meon Wind Farm - Group opposing Volkswind’s proposal for two 126.5m turbines on the South Downs near East Meon, in East Hampshire.

NEWT - No Ellands Wind Turbines - Action group set up by villagers from Thurning, Hemington, Luddington-in-the-Brook and Clopton to oppose plans by Enertrag to build six 120m-130m (394ft-427ft) wind turbines at Ellands Farm, Hemington, in East Northamptonshire. Refused on appeal, August 2007.

FELLS - Friends of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery - "FELLS began its fight to protect the countryside of Cumbria and North Lancashire from inappropriately sited wind farms in June 2000 and continues to provide support and up to date information to community groups opposing wind farm developers in the area."

FLAT - Fenland Landscape Against Turbines - "FLAT is a campaign to stop wind turbines being erected at Marshland St James, Norfolk."

FORCE - Friends of Rural Cumbria's Environment - "Committed to opposing inappropriately sited wind energy development in Cumbria and to challenging government guidelines which fail to protect the countryside from this unacceptable industrialisation."

RAW - Residents Against the Windfarm - Campaign against a proposal by Peel Energy for twenty one (21) 125m turbines on Frodsham and Helsby marshes on the south side of the Mersey estuary near Frodsham, in Cheshire

CAWT - Campaign Against Wind Turbines at Fullabrook Down - "CAWT is a group of people concerned about the environment and committed to protecting North Devon's landscape". Following a public inquiry, the inspector found against the objections of local councils and other organisations and approved the application for 22 x 110m turbines. The decision formed the traditional treat for the BWEA during the Minister's keynote address to their annual conference. We hear that the local Council are considering applying for judicial review.

Glyncorrwg Action Group - Originally formed in 1993 to fight a proposal by Ecogen for 45 turbines at Blaencorrwg, near Glyncorrwg. The proposal was refused in Feb 1994, but Ecogen reapplied for 36 turbines, 180 feet high. In Nov 1994 this proposal was rejected; the company did not appeal.
The group reformed to fight a proposal by Eco2 for four 410 ft turbines at Corrwg Fechan, near to houses in Glyncorrwg and a Gamesa plan for 4 turbines 603 feet high on Blaencorrwg behind Cymmer Road and 10 turbines 603 feet high on Gelli Mountain in Cymmer/Croeserw.

Stop Great Cransley Wind Farm - An action group of local residents, formed in April 2008, who oppose ‘Bolsterstone’s’ plans for four 125 metre high) wind turbines, on land between Great Cransley and Mawsley, approximately 3.5km south of Kettering in Northamptonshire.

HALT - Group opposing a scheme by Stamford Renewables Ltd for up twelve 130m (427 ft) turbines in the Ringsfield and Barsham parishes near Beccles, Suffolk.

HALT - Hampole Against Large Turbines - Campaign against a proposal by NPower for five 125m turbines on a site surrounded by the villages of Hampole, Skellow, Woodlands/Adwick, Pickburn, Brodsworth, Hooton Pagnall, Moorhouse and Skelbrooke, near Doncaster.

SHOWT - Stop Hempnall's Onshore Wind Turbines - Action group of local villages campaigning against Enertrag UK's proposal for giant turbines near Hempnall, in rural South Norfolk some seven miles south of Norwich.
An application for seven 125m turbines was unanimously (7-0) rejected on 5 August 2008 and subsequently rejected at appeal (December, 2009). Enertrag have now announced that they will now submit a revised proposal.

Hook Moor Wind Farm Action - "Hook Moor Wind Farm Action has formed to oppose plans to erect a wind farm of between 5 and 8 turbines, each 406 feet high (125metres) on Green Belt land between the village of Micklefield and Hook Moor [nr. Leeds].

Belthorn village website - Stop the Hyndburn Wind Farm - Group opposing proposal by Energiekontor for twelve 122m turbines on Oswaldtwistle Moor, Lancashire.

Stop Kelmarsh Wind Farm - Kelmarsh Hall is a Grade 1 listed building in northern Northamptonshire owned by a private charitable Trust. The gardens are also listed. The Trustees of the Kelmarsh Hall Trust are proposing to have seven 120 m. wind turbines erected next to the Civil War battlefield of Naseby which borders the Kelmarsh Hall estate to the West.

KWAG - Kentish Weald Action Group - Group opposing proposal for a 127m wind turbine just outside Marden, on the banks of the River Teise, in the beautiful Teise Valley.

VVASP - Vale Villages Against Scottish Power Renewables [Lenchwick] - Group opposing proposal to build ten 125m turbines at Lenchwick, overlooking the Vale of Evesham in Worcestershire.

wind farms org.uk [Lenchwick] - “The purpose of this forum is to create a place for the examination of wind farms in general and, specifically, the planned wind farm in our community.”

Lilbourne Action Group Against the Wind Farm Opposing scheme by Cetis for twelve 125m turbines on land adjacent the village of Lilbourne which is on the borders of Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.

Stop Linton Wind Farm Action Group - "Enertrag, a German wind farm developer, is proposing to build an eight turbine wind farm on the ridge between Linton, The Abingtons, Great Chesterford and Hadstock [South Cambridgeshire]. Each turbine will be 125/130m high, the tallest yet to be built in England."

Landscape First [Longfield Tarn] - “We are a non political local action group co-ordinating opposition to Eon’s proposed power station at Longfield Tarn (previously referred to as Nanny Hall), near Kirkby Lonsdale [Cumbria].”

AWFALS - Against Wind Farm At Low Spinney - Group opposing proposal by Broadview Energy for six 125m turbines on Low Spinney between the villages of Dunton Bassett, Ashby Magna and Gilmorton in the Harborough District of South Leicestershire.

STILE - Stop Turbines in Lunesdale Environment - “Group formed in April 2005 to oppose the spread of wind turbines in conspicuous locations within the Lune Valley, where their siting would have a detrimental effect on the rural and environmental character of the area whilst providing minimal energy generation with disproportionate destruction of the countryside.”

MAIWAG - Marton, Askam & Ireleth Windfarm Action Group - Archived version of site. See also David Brierley's presentation (on the StopCWF website) about MAIWAG's experience of lies, deception and the reality of living with turbines.

AMP - Action Against Matlock Moor Wind Farm Proposal - Group opposing a proposal by West Coast Energy for five 125m turbines on Matlock Moor, in North East Derbyshire.

Mynydd Llansadwrn Action Group - Action group set up to protect Mynydd Llansadwrn, part of the spectacular undulating landscape of Carmarthenshire, in south Wales, from speculative developers.

Newlands Wind Farm Action Group - Group opposing a proposal by Bolsterstone Plc for three 115m turbines at Newlands Farm, close to Cumwhinton, nr. Carlisle.

Save North Devon from Wind Turbines - “ A central resource for the latest information regarding wind turbine developments in North Devon. It links existing North Devon objection groups and aims to serve the public by providing the full story, not just the information that the wind farm developers want to promote.”

NHWAG - North Hambleton Windfarm Action Group - Campaign Group opposing a proposal by Pure Renewable Energies for nine 125m turbines at Ingram Grange Farm close to communities at Appleton Wiske, Deighton, East Rounton, Great Smeaton, Hornby, Little Smeaton, Picton, Welbury and West Rounton in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire.

No Wind Turbine Here - Campaign Group opposing a proposal for a 126m turbine at Sparrow Lodge, Pincet Lane, North Kilworth in Leicestershire. The proposed turbine would be very close to housing.

N.O.W.T NE Cumbria - “Group set up to oppose the Banks Developments Ltd proposal for wind farms at the Black Knors, Mossgrove, and Stonechest areas of North East Cumbria.”

PAG - Peckleton Action Group - Group opposing a proposal to site two 125 metre (410ft) high wind turbines on land between the villages of Desford, Peckleton, Kirkby Mallory and Newbold Verdon, in the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council area of Leicestershire.

PACT - People Against Corwen/Cerrigydrudion Turbines (North Wales Wind Watch) - “A campaign group FOR a sensible environmentally sensitive sustainable energy strategy which combines serious committment to energy conservation; off-shore wind power,tidal,solar,biomass and other renewable energy sources but, campaigns passionately AGAINST the senseless,indiscriminate siting of wind power plants in our rural areas.”

PWAG - Pontefract Wind Farm Action Group - Banks Developments are proposing to erect six 125m high wind turbines near Darrington, Wentbridge, Carleton and East Hardwick, near the A1 ESE of Pontefract in Yorkshire. Your Energy Ltd. is proposing another array on a site between Knottingley and Eggborough NE of Pontefract.

VORTEX - - Group fighting an application by Nuon Renewables for 7 x 105m turbines on a site at Poplar Lane, Bearstone, North Shropshire.

SHWAG - Seamer & Hilton Windfarm Action Group - SHWAG was set up to oppose a proposal by Broadview Energy for five 126m turbines on open farmland between Seamer and Hilton straddling the border between North Yorkshire and Cleveland.

STAR - Stop Turbines at Ringstead - STAR was set up to oppose the Ringstead Grange proposal by Volkswind for five 125m turbines between Ringstead Village and Raunds, in East Northamptonshire.

AGAST - Action Group Against Sempringham Turbines - Action group of local residents who oppose Iberdrola’s scheme for six 120m wind turbines on green belt agricultural land at Neslam Farm, Sempringham Fen in the Lincolnshire Fens.

Protect Sheephouse Heights - Group opposing Dutch company Evelop’s proposal for five 125m turbines at Sheephouse Heights, above Stocksbridge and Penistone, near Barnsley, on the edge of the Peak District National Park.

STOP - Sibsey Turbine On-shore Protest - Group opposing Iberdrola's scheme for ten 394 foot turbines between Sibsey and Stickney in East Lindsey District, Lincolnshire.

SOS - Save Our Silton - Group opposing a proposal by Ecotricity to build six 120m (394ft) wind turbines at Silton near Gillingham, in Dorset.
MOD are requiring warning lights on these turbines: ‘Miss Cyranne Taylor the “Safeguarding Officer - Wind Energy” for MoD, Defence Estates, writes: “If construction goes ahead there will be a requirement for 200 candela fixed omni-directional red lighting on each turbine due to their location in the Night Low Flying System.”’

SOBER - Save Our Borderland Environment - “SOBER is a voluntary group of people whose aim is to protect the landscape and wildlife of the Oswestry and Welsh Borderlands from insensitively sited wind-driven power stations.”

SOCME - Save Our Common Mountain Environment - Group opposing a proposal by National Wind Power for a large wind power station on the profoundly beautiful and historic Mynydd Y Gwair (The Hay Mountain), North Gower.

SOS - Save Our Scenery - “Npower Renewables want to site the largest offshore wind farm in the UK in our bay. We already have 30 wind turbines off Prestatyn some 14 miles off our heritage coastline but they currently intrude upon our bay on clear days. Consent already exists for a further 30 (Rhyl Flats consented in 2003) This will take the cumulative total to 60. The Gwynt-Y-Mor (Windy Sea ) will add a further 200+ of the largest turbines yet at 520 feet. These will be approximately 5 miles off the Llandudno Promenade. A total of 260… a fence of steel will enclose the bay.”

COST - Community Opposed to Shap Turbines - Opposing a proposal by Gamesa for ten 100 metre turbines that threaten Shap and the Eden Valley.

SIEGE - Southminster Inhabitants Environmental Group Enterprise - Group campaigning against 2 proposals, by Ridgewind and RES for a total of 29 turbines on the Dengie Peninsular in Essex (See BATTLE above for group fighting another 10 in this area).

STAPLE - South Tendring Acting to Protect our Local Environment - Group opposing a proposal by NPower for an array of 5 x 410 ft. turbines near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. STAPLE says there would be 6,000 people living within 0.5 to 1.0 miles of the turbines.

STOP - Spaldington Turbine Opposition Project - Group opposing a proposal by Volkswind for seven 126.5m (415 ft) turbines on Spaldington Common, half way between the historic market town of Howden and the Yorkshire Wolds, and a second application by Coriolis/Falck for 5 turbines up to 126m (413 ft) high on Spaldington Airfield. “There are already 14 other wind farm developments in operation, under construction, in the planning process or at scoping stage within a 20km radius of Spaldington Common.”

SPAG - Seven Parishes Action Group - “SPAG is a body jointly established by the Seven Parish Councils of Bishopton, Great Stainton, Little Stainton, Sadberge, East and West Newbiggin, Great Burdon and Redmarshall [between Darlington and Stockton, Co. Durham]. It represents the lives of well over 2000 local residents.”

SOS - Save our Stainmore - Group opposing a proposal by Community Windpower Ltd to build twelve 125 metre (410 feet) turbines at South Stainmore, within the North Pennines AONB.

FRAWT – Feldon Residents And Wind Turbines [Starbold WF] - Group opposing the ‘Starbold Wind Farm’ proposal by Broadview Energy Ltd for six 100m plus turbines at Knightcote Farm, near Knightcote, Warwickshire.

SSWFAG - Stop Swinford Wind Farm Action Group - Group opposing a proposal by Nuon for 11 x 125 metre (410 ft.) turbines between the villages of Swinford and Walcote in Leicestershire.

STINC - Stop Turbines In North Cornwall - “We represent a growing number of local people who are seriously worried about the new wind developments currently being proposed for Davidstow, Hendraburnick, Otterham and the repowering of Delabole and are committed to stopping the construction of these and any further wind farms in North Cornwall.
“The group was formed at a public meeting of about 200 residents on 13th August 2007 at Clease Hall, Camelford. All of the committee members are local residents and are working for the group as volunteers.”

SHCG - Stonewall Hill and Reeves Hill Conservation Group - “Set up to co-ordinate actions and protect the tranquillity of Stonewall and Reeves hill [Herefordshire] which are under threat from wind power station developers.”

Stop the Spin - “‘Ground Zero’ for what will become the vast East Midlands Wind Farm is the parish church spire in Crick, Northamptonshire. Stop the Spin is currently tracking proposals for a total of 54 turbines to be located within an 8 mile radius. Astonishingly, most local residents are not even aware that this is the case...”

Tallentire Area Action Group - Group opposing plans by Novera Energy to erect 5 massive wind turbines at Fleeter Wood close to Tallentire and Townhead, Dearham, in the Northern Fells of Cumbria.

TAG - Tivetshall Action Group - Group opposing a proposal by Enertrag for six 125m turbines close to Tivetshall St Mary and Dickleburgh, in South Norfolk.

2big2close (Trispen) - “2big2close is an association of Trispen and St Erme [Cornwall] residents who consider that Wind Turbines are fine in their proper place, but that this development is Too Big & Too Close to our homes.”

Stop Wadlow Wind Farm

4Villages (Upper Vaunces) - 4Villages is a group set up to oppose the Upper Vaunces proposal by TCI Renewables for three 125m turbines near the villages of Dickleburgh, Rushall, Pulham Market and Pulham St Mary in South Norfolk.

Visit Wales Now - Visit Wales and see the spectacular landscape!

VORTEX - Group fighting an application by Nuon Renewables for 7 x 105m turbines on a site at Poplar Lane, Bearstone, North Shropshire.

WWW - Westhall Wind Watch - Group opposing a proposal by Bernard Matthews Ltd. for five 100m turbines at its Holton plant,near Halesworth, in Suffolk.

WARD - Weston Against Rural Destruction - Group opposing an application by a landowner for 3 x 120m turbines on a site at Weston , nr. Hitchin, North Hertfordshire.

SWCP - Save Westwood Country Park - Group formed by local people to oppose the construction of wind turbines proposed by Sheffield City Council for Westwood Country Park.
"Westwood Country Park is a green area set aside for the PUBLIC. It is a beautiful and tranquil site; rich in wildlife; and enjoyed by people for jogging, rambling, dog walking, and play by adults and children alike."

Wind Farm Victims - “How a remote Welsh valley is under threat of being turned into an industrial zone. Read our story… and tell us yours!”

Wingates NOT Wind Farms - “‘Wingates Not Wind Farms’ action group is set up to fight the proposals by Novera Energy, Coronation Power and RES (UK) Ltd in their plans to build several wind farm sites which would envelope Wingates village and the surrounding area.”

WWFO - Wolds WindFarm Opposition - A group of residents from Skerne, Hutton, Watton, Watton Carrs and Hutton Cranswick, in Yorkshire, opposing the construction of ten 125m turbines.

WWAG - Woodford Wind Farm Action Group - WWAG is opposing plans by NUon Energy for 120 metre (400ft) wind turbines at Preston Fields Farm, near Preston Capes, Little Preston, Charwelton, Woodford Halse and Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire. The site is within a kilometre of housing and about 800m from Woodford Primary School.

Stop Woodlane wind farm - Residents opposing plans by German windfarm developer, Prowind, for fourteen 125 metre (410ft) wind turbines between the villages of Birkin, West Haddlesey, Gateforth and Hillam, near Selby in North Yorkshire.

SWWAG - Stop Wyverstone Windfarm Action Group - Set up to oppose a proposal by Wind-power Renewables to build two 125m (410ft) wind turbines at Potash Farm, Wyverstone in Suffolk.

NO WAY - NO Windfarm At Yelvertoft - Group opposing a proposal by Your Energy Ltd to build eight 125m (410ft) wind turbines at Yelverton in the Daventry District of Northamptonshire.

Some Foreign Campaign Groups:

European Platform Against Windfarms (EPAW). An expression of the growing pan-European resistance to the industrialisation of landscapes with giant turbines.

Ventdubocage - Opposing industrial wind power in France. Lots of interesting links.

North American Platform Against Windpower (NA-PAW) - (NA-PAW) was created to stand for the interests of the ever-growing number of organizations and individuals in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, Canada, and the U.S.A. who:
- oppose individual wind energy or transmission line proposals;
- question the effectiveness of wind power in helping to solve our energy problems;
- work to protect wildlife and landscapes from industrial wind power development; and/or
- fight the damage of wind energy facilities to tourism, the economy, and people's quality of life, health, and amenity.

Wind Concerns Ontario. “WCO is a province-wide coalition (34 Citizen’s Groups from across 23 Counties/Districts) which promotes awareness of the true impacts of industrial wind power facilities on our health, environment, economy and quality of life.”

Better Plan, Rock County (BPRC), Wisconsin - “Whether you want wind turbines on your land, or whether you live near someone who does, you will need reliable information on lease agreements, set-back laws, changes in your insurance rates and liability coverage, changes in your property values, and documented health and safety concerns for people and livestock associated with living within a mile of industrial wind turbines.”

Save Western New York - “Save Western NY is a voluntary association of residents and property owners in the Town of Wethersfield. The group was formed in response to concerns about a proposal by Noble Environmental Power, LLC to install 67-70 wind turbines nearly 400 feet tall, lighted 24 hours a day, in the township.”

Stopillwind.org - “An educational resource about industrial wind.”

Friends and Supporters

Laurie Campbell - Natural History Photographer - Laurie is one of Scotland's leading natural history and landscape photographers.