Devon's largest wind farm agreed
Tuesday, 09 Oct 2007 16:12
Wind farms are said to be key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
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Government approval has been granted today for Devon's largest windfarm.
Energy minister Malcolm Wicks announced that the 66W Fullabrook Down wind project in north Devon can go ahead.
The decision follows a month-long inquiry into the farm, run by Devon Wind Power, which took place at the turn of the year.
Consisting of 22 wind turbines, the windfarm will generate enough electricity to meet the average annual needs of 30,000 domestic consumers.
This is equivalent to over 80 per cent of domestic electricity consumption or about 30 per cent of total energy electricity consumption in north Devon.
Each year the windfarm will save almost 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Mr Wicks told the British Wind Energy Association, where he made the announcement, that the renewable future in Britain is "burning bright".
"We said we needed to make tough choices if we are to achieve our clean energy objectives and that is exactly what we are doing," he said.
"Fullabrook Down will make a substantial contribution to meeting Devon's renewable target of generating 151 MW of renewable electricity by 2010 and would be nearly double the North Devon District Council's target of 36MW."
