By Chris Story and Thom Kennedy

Last updated at 10:29, Friday, 12 December 2008

Anti-windfarm activists have joined forces to support councillors who fear that a proliferation of developments could undermine Cumbria’s economic regeneration.

The Strategic Alliance Against Lakeland Wind Turbines (SALT) and Friends of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery (FELLS) are concerned that Cumbria is at a crossroads that could heavily damage the countryside.

Cumbria County Council last month passed a motion stating its “grave concerns” that targets for offshore and wind energy ride roughshod over the landscape’s capacity to accommodate more wind farms.

It added: “Cumbria’s environment is a key asset for economic wellbeing. The county council believes that a proliferation of wind farms will undermine efforts to address the county’s economic problems.”

Activists now want a commitment from the Government that it will reduce the country’s reliance on wind power targets and invest urgently in other low-carbon forms of energy.

In a joint statement, SALT and FELLS said: “We are not on the cusp of an environmental utopia made possible by wind power, but rather in the grip of an expensive and inefficient form of electricity generation.

“The just-published report from the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs, The Economics of Renewable Energy, estimates that the total support for renewable generation from the taxpayer and consumers is now of the order of £1.4 billion per year – a sum that will build up to £6 billion a year by 2020 and more than £30 billion cumulatively.

“This is in addition to the capital costs of wind factory construction which will be at least £100 billion by then – all at a time of severe credit restriction.”

Wind farm protesters claim the expense involved in building wind farms is not justified, alleging the costs of taxes connected to wind farmers could build two nuclear power stations. The campaigners have described Cumbria as being at a crossroads.

They added: “If we are not careful we will destroy the very thing we wish to preserve by undermining Cumbria’s attraction as a holiday destination.

“With a headlong rush into a flawed technology it will cause serious landscape and visual harm, produce a small amount of intermittent electricity, save very little carbon dioxide, and cost the UK tax-payer billions of pounds in tax rises and unnecessary subsidy.”

There are now 19 anti-windfarm groups across Cumbria and north Lancashire. County councillors were told last month that there were 92 wind turbines are already operational in Cumbria, that a further 13 wind farms were planned, 46 potential sites being considered and 70 more being scoped.

Among the biggest windfarm developments in the county is the off-shore Robin Rigg development. It involves the construction of 60 turbines off the Maryport coast.

First published at 05:17, Friday, 12 December 2008
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk