Martin Horwood counters bill on wind turbine distance limits

MP Martin Horwood of Cheltenham stood up for wind energy to oppose the newly proposed bill that allows  wind turbines to only be built 1.5 miles away from houses.

Horwood believed that the bill could possibly have dreadful effects to the UK and would force the countryside to accept wind turbine projects that cannot be installed in urban areas. In addition, bill critics said that the 1.5-mile distance limit would be a factor to the collapse of the country’s onshore wind energy sector.

The bill was earlier introduced by several anti-wind energy policymakers, including MP Peter Luff. They argued that huge wind turbines should be built 1.5 miles away from homes, reasoning that turbine blades produce 40dB noise that might have bad health effects on home dwellers.

Opposing the bill, Horwood debated that there is no problem having a turbine close to homes. He informed that Cheltenham’s first wind project will produce 9,500kWh of electricity and save over four tonnes of carbon gas emissions a year.

The pro-wind energy parliamentarian also pointed out that Cheltenham’s wind turbines will be safe and quiet. To be owned by the community organization, Hesters Way Neighbourhood Project, the wind turbine will save the community around £1,000 from its annual electricity bill.

Earlier this month, Horwood spoke out at the British Wind Energy Association’s conference to also support the UK’s zero carbon emission policy. His party, Liberal Democrats, urged that 30 per cent of the produced electricity should come from renewables via 33GW of offshore capacity and 11GW onshore.