Environmental Protection UK asks for an urgent review of guidance used for assessing wind turbine noise impact
The latest report on UK Electricity Costs finds that onshore wind is the 'least cost, zero carbon' technology option in the near to medium term. However, the only costs taken into account are those borne by the owner in relation to project operation, and the authors add the caveat that 'externalities relating to environmental and social impacts of construction, operation and fuel supply chains are excluded'.
Environmental Protection UK is urging the new government to prove its credentials as the greenest government yet, by working to reduce the cost of the protracted planning battles currently blighting wind farm development and the social cost of potential impacts.
“Distrust of the outdated government approved guidance used to assess the potential noise impact of wind farms is causing protracted planning battles and refusals of applications by inspectors," said Mary Stevens, Policy Officer at Environmental Protection UK.
“The previous Government ignored our requests for a revision – leading to uncertainty for developers and communities and causing confusion for noise specialists, planners and decision making authorities. We hope that our new ‘green’ government will look to ensure that a balance is struck between reducing the risk of unhealthy noise impacts and securing our energy future.”
Environmental Protection UK has written to Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Huhne, asking for an urgent review of ETSU-R-97 – the thirteen year old guidance used for assessing wind turbine noise impact.
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Related categories: Environmental legislation Wind power
