Green on Cranfield Campus

I don't know if any of these are open to the general public but there is obviously plenty of green activity going on, on the campus. Turbine opponents in Wood End will, I'm sure, be unimpressed by the 'tour of the turbine' listed below. But subject to the impact on local population, renewables are here to stay and Cranfield may well do some critical work on the technology and its development.

11-15 November is ‘Green Week’ at Cranfield campus - a chance to find out about the green-related activities being undertaken to help reduce our carbon footprint, and learn about some of the research Cranfield involved in which is having an impact on the environment and the world in which we live.
Each day is dedicated to a particular theme – energy and water, waste recycling and procurement, biodiversity and green champions. 

The week kicked off with ‘green transport day’ for those who have travelled into campus as a car share, by bus or on their bike.
Throughout the week there are exhibitions from environmental organisations and charities, a trip to our recycling centre, a tour of the new wind turbine, bird and bat box making activity, several interactive presentations and workshops as well as film events.
Don’t forget to check out the details of the lunchtime talks, daily exhibitions, tours and social events taking place throughout the week and book your seat so you don’t miss out: see the poster here and visit the university intranet for more details.

http://www.mycsa.org.uk/?p=4325 

Wind farm programme gets government backing

The FCC Brogborough wind farm application is expected soon and the Stewartby one is being considered. See the following from the Daily Telegraph which says the wind farm programme is unabated. Earlier this week the Parish Council voted to oppose the Stewartby one one the grounds of "cumulative visual impact" and proximity to the proposed Kimberley STEM college (Wootton Plus).

Earlier this year I proposed that the PC oppose the FCC application unless a minimum distance of 2 Km was maintained between the turbines and the nearest residential property  while health issues were investigated.  But I am not convinced that visual impact is an objective enough basis for opposition.



New Green tax threat in energy bills 'deal'
Ed Davey, the Environment Secretary, says there will be no cap on wind farms, as he insists that Green levies must stay and might have to be paid through taxes

The country needed more wind turbines to play a “critical” role in supplying electricity to the National Grid in the decades ahead, Mr Davey said. 


New taxes to pay for environmental schemes are being considered as part of a deal to cut household energy bills, it can be disclosed.
The taxpayer would foot the bill for two of the “green” schemes, all of which are currently paid for through a levy on gas and electricity bills.
 
The major energy suppliers have repeatedly told ministers the levies are pushing up household bills — for which they and the Government have been severely criticised.
Senior Tories have held talks with the companies and believe they have secured agreement that if the largest levy, the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), is removed, immediate cuts in prices of up to seven per cent would be announced.
A deal could be struck in time to be announced as early as next month, allowing an average saving of as much as £75 a household.

But Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, said the green schemes had to stay — and signalled that they could be paid for through tax.
He told The Telegraph that he was happy to have a “debate” about how green energy policies were funded. He said: “We can maybe find there are other ways of paying for them. There may be ways and means.”
 
The move by the Lib Dems means that George Osborne will either have to raise taxes or find money to pay for the scheme, expected to cost £1.3 billion next year, from already under-pressure public funds through more cuts or borrowing.
In a significant intervention in the heated debate, Mr Davey also:
• Vetoed the Prime Minister’s own intention to review every green subsidy, saying that support for wind farms and other “renewable” energy systems would not be reconsidered;
• Refused to back down on support for wind farms, insisting that more onshore turbines would be “critical” for energy supplies;
• Said the wind farms, which have attracted huge opposition where they have been built or proposed, did not affect house prices;
• Attacked Right-wing Tories for “undermining consensus” on the environment;
• Said there has been “massive interest” in new licences for fracking and a review to be published on Monday will outline a revival in the North Sea oil industry.


For full article see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/10438528/New-Green-tax-threat-in-energy-bills-deal.html

Wind Energy in Central Beds

Three Central Beds consultations have been published. I haven't had the chance to look at any of them so far but I suspect there will be a lot of attention paid to the Wind Farm Development document,locally. It will be interesting to see if the outcome of this has any bearing on the Brogborough application. I suspect not. CBC says:

The Council is publishing guidance in respect of wind energy development in Central  Bedfordshire. This is the first of what will be a series of notes on renewable energy. It outlines what the main planning considerations will be in assessing applications  and also aims to assist all interested parties in identifying the most appropriate  locations for wind energy development in Central Bedfordshire. The analysis is based largely on landscape impact but other issues are also discussed. The deadline for  comments is 5pm Monday 11 February 2013.

 

 

 

 

 CBC states:

 

The Council is publishing three Local Plan documents for comment from Monday 14th January 2013.
The Development Strategy for Central Bedfordshire (Pre-Submission version) –
comments by 25 February 2013
The Community Infrastructure Levy (draft Charging Schedule) – comments by 25
February 2013
Central Bedfordshire Council Draft Guidance Note 1: Wind Energy Development. comments by 11 February 2013  More information about the individual documents, the stage they are at and their
consultation period is described below.  

You can comment on the documents directly via the on-line facility at
http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/consultation-and-news.aspx.  

We would encourage you to use this facility. Guidance notes on how to comment using this facility are available online.  The Consultation documents and comments forms for all three consultations are available to view and download by visiting the Strategic Planning pages on the Council’s website
http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/consultation-and-news.aspx 

Consultation on the Draft Development Strategy
The Development Strategy is being published for comment for six weeks. The
deadline for the return of any comments is 5pmon Monday 25 February 2013.
What is the Development Strategy?
The Development Strategy will be the main planning document for Central
Bedfordshire, and sets out new policies for development including how many houses
and jobs are needed and where they should go; and more detailed policies which
will be used to determine planning applications.
Publication stage
This is a formal stage of consultation and the comments made (called
representations) will be considered by an independent Planning Inspector.
Government requires that we ask for views on a series of specific questions about
“soundness” and legal compliance. These terms are described in the accompanying
leaflet. If you feel unable to indicate this in your representation, the Council will be
able to complete this on your behalf.
A number of supporting documents including the Sustainability Appraisal and
technical papers are being published alongside the Development Strategy
document.   

Central Bedfordshire Council - Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
The CIL Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule is being published for comment for 6  weeks. The deadline for comments is 5pmMonday 25 February 2013.
What is the Community Infrastructure Levy?
The Council is consulting residents and businesses on its proposal to introduce a
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on new developments within its authority area.
CIL is a tax on new development which the Council may adopt to fund new
infrastructure needed to support growth including transport improvements; new
schools; open space and community buildings. It is collected by the Council and
applied per square metre of new development to most new buildings.
The Council are publishing a Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule (PDCS) which
sets out the basis for introducing the tax and proposes rates that the Council intends  to charge for both residential and non-residential developments, based on their size,  type and location.
Next Steps
This is the first of two periods of consultation. Following this consultation the Council  will consider the comments made, and should it wish to continue with CIL adoption,  make whatever changes appropriate to its Draft Charge Schedule and re-consult the  public for a second 4 week period in the summer.
 

Stewartby wind turbine

The proposal for a wind turbine in Stewartby has resurfaced with a public exhibition for just four hours next Wednesday. Please see the details below

FCC Environment is developing renewable energy proposals for a small scale facility using Anaerobic Digestion and a single Feed-in Tariff wind turbine at Stewartby Landfill.

A public exhibition is being held on Wednesday 26 September between 2pm and 8pm at Stewartby Village Hall to share the proposals with the local community, answer questions and listen to feedback.

Renewable Energy Facility Using Anaerobic Digestion (AD) 
Stewartby is a closed landfill site that has now ceased accepting waste. Restoration of the site is ongoing and over time, the intention is to see the site restored to agricultural use with rights of way allowing informal access to the public. The proposed AD facility would provide clean, green heat and power for FCC Environment’s Stewartby based operations, as well as a self-sufficient supply of organic fertiliser that would be used for the ongoing restoration of areas of the landfill. It would be able to generate the equivalent of up to 0.5 MWe of renewable electricity powered exclusively by energy crops, such as maize, that will be cultivated on both restored areas of the landfill and nearby farmland. The AD facility would not receive any waste.

Single Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Wind Turbine

The FIT scheme was launched by the Government in 2010 to increase the uptake of small and medium scale, renewable energy generation, in order to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and in line with the UK’s obligation under European law to cut carbon emissions by 2050. FCC Environment has undertaken a review of over 260 of its closed and operational site across the UK, to establish feasible locations for the possible development of wind energy projects. A feasibility study of our Stewartby site has been undertaken which included rigorous technical and environmental assessments to demonstrate its appropriateness for the development of a single wind turbine. It would have a maximum height of 87m to the tip of the blades, and, each year, would produce enough low carbon electricity to power the equivalent of 300 homes.



Ian Gorton
Planning Manager
01925 847508 | Mobile: 07920 823792 | 
Email: Ian.Gorton@fccenvironment.co.uk
FCC Environment | Warrington office | http://www.fccenvironment.co.uk/