Are The Answers Blowing In The Wind?

The power company behind the planned gigantic Atlantic Array off-shore windfarm is holding six, day-long exhibitions in north Devon.

It'll be the first time residents have had the chance to gauge the impact of up to four hundred Bristol Channel-based turbines on the north Devon coastline.

It's hoped the wind farm will be capable of generating up to 1500 megawatts (MW) of electricity every year, the equivalent of meeting the power needs of around 1.1million average UK households. That's enough energy to meet more than 40 per cent of the domestic electricity use for the South West of England. 

It'll be located around 14km from the north Devon coast, 16km from the South Wales coast and 13km from Lundy Island at its closest points. 

The exhibition venues include Abbotsham Village Hall (10^th), Lovacott Village Hall in Newton Tracey (11^th), The Royal Britannia in Ilfracombe (15^th), Croyde Village Hall (16^th), The Castle Centre in Barnstaple (17^th) and Bideford College (18^th). 

Each event will provide local residents with the opportunity to review RWE NRL’s proposed project plans, consider the preliminary findings from environmental and ecological surveys undertaken by the company and view images of what the scheme could look. 

Members of the Atlantic Array project team will also be on hand to answer questions about the project and provide information about the local economic benefits and employment opportunities that could arise. 

Robert Thornhill, Development Manager for the Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm says the company is eager to get into dialogue with the local community: “We have been making good progress with the proposal for the Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm and throughout September we will undertake a comprehensive programme of consultation with local communities in North Devon. 

“The aim of holding six exhibitions in six different locations is to provide as many people in North Devon as possible with the opportunity to meet the team behind the project and help them understand wind energy and the benefits it can provide to the economy, the environment and local communities. 

“The responses and feedback we receive from local residents and businesses are essential as they will help shape the final report which forms part of our final planning application. We want the community to share in the benefits of wind energy and would urge as many people as possible to come along to find out more.” 

An application for a development consent order is being submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission – the independent body that examines applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects – in 2012..   

Public consultation on the project will start formally on 10^th September 2011 and close at 5pm on 10^th November 2011. All public feedback to the application needs to be submitted to RWE NRL between these dates.  

Further information on the Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm can be found at www.npower-renewables.com/atlanticarray 

RWE npower renewables is encouraging people to take part in their consultation.  Feedback forms can be downloaded from the website or picked up at an exhibition.    

Email: atlanticarray@npower-renewables.com

 Website: www.npower-renewables.com/atlanticarray