Wind Farms—8

Should people in Rhuthun be worked up about a handful of wind farms some 12 to 15 miles away? Especially as it’s probably a foregone conclusion?

Well, on a sunny day, each time you travel west towards Rhuthun over the Bwlch Penbarras or Clwyd Gate, your eyes are drawn to the white giants on the horizon before you. This view is world class. Do the wind turbines detract from the landscape or do they contribute to the immense vista ahead of you?

Whatever the answer, whether you feel turbines are a worthwhile venture aimed at reducing carbon emissions; or whether you feel it’s a senseless industrialisation of an upland landscape providing little if any environmental benefit, you do get your chance to have your say at a forthcoming public exhibition. But only if you are around on Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Llanfwrog community centre plays host to RWE Npower Renewables and its plans for up to between 32 & 39 additional turbines in Ceodwig Clocaenog Forest/Hiraethog, on Thursday. Finishing by 2 p.m. prevents many people from attending and it isn’t particularly useful, reinforcing the point about foregone conclusions.

Back in November 2008, RWE Npower Renewables produced an online newsletter aimed at the Clocaenog area. We at Rhuthun/Ruthin Blog commented upon Npower’s five key features at Clocaenog and, one year on, we can’t see that this has changed.

Meanwhile, in an attempt at the state of play regarding wind turbines in the Clwyd Power Station above Rhuthun, we estimate that there are now some 85 to 92 turbines either in place, pending or for which permission is granted. Most are pending or have permission granted... but expect more in the future.