npower has announced plans to build a windfarm on Ballindallochmuir.
The proposal is for a wind farm consisting of between 9 and 16 wind turbines with an installed capacity in the region of 15-25megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity.
With a capacity of this size the project could meet the average needs of some 8,000-13,000 homes each year - that's currently equivalent to 20-35% of all the homes across Stirlingshire! Ballindalloch
Muir Wind Farm could also help offset the annual release of some 35,000-55,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas contributing to climate change, which would otherwise come from power
stations burning fossil fuels.
Public exhibitions were held during the summer and further newsletters will be mailed ensuring all local residents have the opportunity to see what the development is about and comment on the
proposal as it develops.
The first focus group meeting was held at Balfron High School on the evening of the 9th March. The event was well attended by around 100 local residents. Holyrood
Consultations, who are assisting npower renewables with the public consultation process, are currently analysing the comments made and the results obtained.
The evening took the form of a short welcome followed by a presentation about the scheme from npower renewables to the entire room. Those that attended were sat at
tables of around 8 people per table for the duration of the evening. Holyrood Consultations then proceeded to take the focus group through a series of themed discussions. These included:
Concerns and Benefits
Local issues
Community involvement
Each separate table then proceeded to talk through each theme amongst themselves for about 20 minutes per theme. Between the themes Holyrood took around 20 minutes for
a representative from each table to report back to the room on the comments they raised. The evening concluded by each attendee completing a short questionnaire on the project and focus group format.
Balfron.info will bring you further details as they become known. Meanwhile, you can air your views in our
Discussion forum.
are the
authority on highlighting the problems associated with the construction of wind turbines in our countryside. For an honest answer to your query about the impact of wind farms on our countryside
try here first! Unlike the others they have no commercial interest and their technical papers are amongst the best we've found on the net.
"Renewable Energy Systems" are proposing to erect a wind power station on Ark Hill near Glamis, find out what the people of Angus think
about this idea.
Fiercely defensive about their industry, in particular it would appear that Country Guardian are a real thorn in their side. The BWEA
doesn't seem to have any control over its members but only seems to fulfil some kind of publicity agents role. Get their Best Practice Guidelines
here
npower renewables is one of the UK's leading renewable energy companies, dedicated to generating electricity using sustainable,
environmentally-friendly resources.
