Climate Change

Support Navitus Bay offshore wind farm
26 February 2013

Proposals for England's south coast offshore wind farm could save an estimated 1,150,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.

Developers Eneco and EDF propose to build a wind farm off the coast of the Isle of Wight and Dorset.

The array of 136 - 218 wind turbines, depending on their size, could supply the average electricity demand for up to 790,000 homes.

Read our briefing on the project.

Future for renewables

The UK has committed to European energy targets to generate 15% of all the UK's energy from renewable resources.

Approving projects like this is vital to meeting our share, making full use of our abundant supplies of wind energy.

Shaping plans

Following consultations with the public and statutory authorities the developers have changed the layout of the proposed wind farm.

This has reduced the number of turbines, moving them farther from the shore.

They are now seeking views on this change and the proposal for an onshore cable route.

Friends of the Earth support this project in principle, but are still waiting for information on the environmental impacts.

Please add your support for this scheme whilst asking for more information.

Support Navitus Bay offshore wind farm

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my support, in principle, for the proposed Navitus Bay wind farm. I would like to know more about the conclusions of the environmental studies you are carrying out and any impacts you predict onshore and offshore. I am very pleased that you have chosen to put the cables underground onshore, but I would urge you to carry out these necessary works to the highest environmental standards. Any disruption necessary should be compensated by way of permanent improvements to landscape, habitats and the rights of way network. I note that you have responded to concerns raised about visual impact by reducing the number of turbines proposed and siting them further offshore. I believe that the visual impact is significantly outweighed by the benefit of such a large source of clean renewable energy. I would not be deterred from visiting the area by the presence of the wind farm. I would like you to work with local businesses, councils and Local Enterprise Partnerships to secure the greatest possible economic benefits for the area. Shore based facilities and supply chains should provide the maximum number of jobs for local people during both the construction and operation. I would like to see you set up a Visitor Centre onshore to maximise the educational and tourism opportunities from this development. This should act as a centre for leaning about renewable technologies and would provide an economic and environmental benefit to the community.

You can contact me by email (preferably - to save resources) or at the following address:

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Climate Change

Support Navitus Bay offshore wind farm26 February 2013

Future for renewables

Shaping plans

Support Navitus Bay offshore wind farm

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Support Navitus Bay offshore wind farm
26 February 2013