The Cost to...

IN BRIEF
The Environment

• CO2 savings are highly disputed.
• Wildlife, particularly birds and bats, can be harmed.
• Soils and water courses can be altered and water supplies affected.
• There can be danger or disturbance from noise, flicker, ice and interference with TV and communications.

The Landscape

• Because of its special character, the landscape is protected by Aberdeenshire Council under the Local Plan for the Marr area.
• The settings of the many important historical sites would be degraded.

The Economy

• Property prices and tourism would be affected in the shortterm and longterm.
• There is little prospect of even a few short-term jobs being created in the local economy.
• Community funds as “compensation” would be spread thinly over a wide area.

Recreation

• Many walkers would travel away from the area to try to avoid exposure to an industrial installation.
• Leisure activities such as horse riding and hang-gliding would be disrupted.

COST TO THE ENVIRONMENT
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Insignificant contribution to the reduction of carbon dioxide
The amount of electricity generated from wind turbines is unpredictable.   This means conventional power stations have to be kept running below maximum efficiency ready to step in if the wind drops.   Running inefficiently, they therefore produce more CO2 than when at full power.
This situation is unavoidable and, as the number of wind factories grows, the risk of power loss increases unless more conventional power stations are built as backup.

Thus, carbon dioxide emissions savings are lower than we are led to believe.    If 2010 targets are met, it has been calculated that CO2 savings would be cancelled out by the emissions of 20 jumbo jets flying continuously at high altitude.

In Denmark, no conventional power stations have been closed in spite of the construction of over 6,000 wind turbines. (1)

Wind turbines require huge concrete bases to anchor them into the ground.   Cement production creates very large amounts of CO2.

The developers of Pressendye quote a wide range of figures for CO2 savings, partly because the wind lobby is in dispute with the Advertising Standards Authority about savings, and partly because they do not appear to know what size the generators will be.   We are asked to judge the meagre benefits from such a destructive development on the basis of virtually meaningless figures.

Damage to the landscape as a resource
There would be a permanent control building and pylons carrying overhead power lines down the hill to an enlarged substation.

New access and onsite tracks would be required to connect the turbines both during the construction period and for maintenance.  Although existing forestry tracks may be used in part they would require widening, up to 20 metres on bends and 10 metres on straight sections.

An anemometer mast would remain permanently on Pressendye.

Effect on birdlife etc.
Significant localised disturbance to bird species may take place during the construction of the wind farm.  
Throughout the life of the wind factory, birds are at risk from blades whose tips turn at up to 300kph.

Red Kites
Red kites are being reintroduced to the British Isles.  They have recently been seen on Pressendye. (3) Red kites foraging in the area of a wind turbine would undoubtedly be at risk. They would be attracted to the carcass of any bat or bird killed by the turbine blades.  
They are at their most active in windy conditions, when the turbines would be operating.   The blade tips turn at up to 300kph (200mph). The male will supply food to a female who sits on the nest until the chicks are three weeks old. During this time she, and then the nestlings, are completely dependent on the male for food. Should he perish for any reason during this two-month period, the nest will almost certainly fail.

Golden Eagles
Golden eagles have recently been seen on Pressendye. (3)   They are extremely sensitive to human disturbance and for that reason build their nests in remote, inaccessible places.
Both golden eagles and red kites are included on the Amber list of birds of conservation concern and have the highest level of protection under UK law.

Icelandic Grey Geese
Every winter grey geese come to the Muir of Dinnet in their thousands to visit Lochs Kinord and Davan.   The Muir is an important wintering roost.  At dawn and dusk these geese have been seen flying over Pressendye.   They would surely be at risk.

Other Significant Bird Species
Species known to have been seen on Pressendye recently are: goshawk, merlin, peregrine, hen harrier, golden plover, snipe, curlew, lesser black backed gull, common gulls, and pink footed geese. (3)

A nesting colony of around 300 gulls has been observed in 2007 on Gallows Hill 5km to the west of Pressendye.

Lapwing numbers have fallen by 50% since the 1970s and are on the amber list.   They inhabit grassland and marginal moorland from spring to autumn.  
They are attracted to wetland areas and lochs which surround Pressendye and could be at risk from turbine blades if crossing the ridge.

Insects, worms, micro-organisms, fungi, etc.
Soil structure is altered by vibration and low-frequency sound (see below).    Air circulation in and above the soil would be reduced affecting the circulation of bio-aerosols which carry nutrients.   The end result may be the collapse of structure and the ecology of micro-organisms, fungi, etc.   Important insects and worms may be driven out, contributing to a reduction in pollination and food sources for birds and mammals.

Effects on Water and Soil
Evidence that a wind factory on Pressendye would not damage soil and would not irreversibly alter water run-off from the hill will be hard to establish.     We appear to be entering a period in which winter rains and snow do not replenish water courses as previously.   We therefore believe that the water systems from these hills are likely to be sensitive to human activity on the scale proposed.    We might only find out when it is too late.

The Scottish Government, SNH and other bodies are considering the possibility that vibration and low-frequency sound caused by wind turbines may damage soil structure and organisms.   Some soils can become compacted.   The finely-woven structure of fibrous soils, such as peat, may unravel.  This is a complex and little understood effect, highlighted in a discussion paperby Professor W Dean.    When lighter soils become compacted drainage is altered.   The fibres of peaty soils may unravel causing slippage on hills and run-off of rotting particles into waterways and drinking water supplies.

Possible specific adverse effects.
Private water supplies may well be affected by the sinking of massive concrete bases into the hill.   The developers intend to leave them in place forever, removing just enough to cover them up.   This is a particularly serious concern for residents living to the north-east in Cushnie and surrounding areas, a large number of whom rely on private water supplies from the Pressendye area.   Two main burns run into the River Don from the Cushnie side of the hills.  However, as rock formations are not fully understood, it will not be known for certain in which directions water flows from the hills where the turbine foundations have been excavated.

Some of the water from Pressendye runs into Tarland Burn.   As a tributary of the River Dee, the Burn has special status under the European Freshwater Fisheries Directive for protecting salmon. As a Special Area of Conservation it is recognised as internationally important for protecting salmon, otter and rare mussels.    The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency considers Tarland Burn to be “definitely at risk” of pollution.   What guarantees can be given that its water quality would not be altered by deep concrete bases near the summit of Pressendye?

Any changes in the surrounding water-table because of new site drainage might adversely affect plant and animal life at all levels in the food chain, eg, aquatic ecosystems, including water voles, otters, etc.    Mammals such as wildcats could also be affected.

There are risks of water pollution from the use of chemicals and materials such as cement, fuels and oils, especially during construction.

Transport and Traffic
The very large turbine components are expected to be delivered to site individually on accompanied special vehicles. As many local roads are unsuitable for large loads, considerable road widening would be required.   There are also concerns over road safety.

There will be many hundreds of traffic movements, with very large loads requiring alterations to the roads network.

Noise
There would be noise during the construction of the wind farm, principally during quarrying and construction of the tracks and excavation works required for the concrete bases. The noise from an operational wind turbine comes from both the mechanical gearing and from the aerodynamic properties of the rotating blades. The former can to a degree be controlled and insulated. The more intrusive noise comes from the effects of the blade moving through the air; and the larger the turbine, the greater the air mass moving the blades and the higher the noise level. The noise is a penetrating, low-frequency “thump” each time a blade passes the turbine tower – reminiscent of the reverberating bass notes of a disco at a neighbour’s noisy party. Of course, noise levels cannot be predicted in advance but residents know that the bowl-shaped Howes act like an amphitheatre carrying noise a long way.

Telecommunications and Television
Electro-magnetic interference
The blades “scatter” TV signals which can lead to a phenomenon called “ghosting” on television screens.   Electrical interference, caused by signals generated within wind turbines, can cause
interference to communications equipment.   RAF jets regularly fly in the area.

Shadow flicker
The rotating wind turbines can cast moving shadows that cause a disturbing flickering effect. Gloss surface blades flash when they rotate. On a bright sunny day these may be a significant distraction for drivers.

Icing causes danger and inefficiency
Apart from the danger of blades becoming detached or disintegrating, blown and freezing snow can form lumps of ice on blades.   According to a report for the International Energy Agency (IEA), icing occurs most frequently at just below freezing point, a frequent occurrence on Pressendye.    Ice can be thrown significant distances when the blades begin to turn, perhaps after being shut down in a snowstorm.   Vibration detectors may then warn of an imbalance in the blades, but of course, it may be too late by then!   A walk on Pressendye on a cold morning may not be such a good idea in future.   To overcome this danger blades may have to be heated which consumes electricity

References:
1.  www.bmpg.co.uk/problem.html
2.  http://www.warmwell.com/realitycheck.htm
3. Cushnie Wind Farm Scoping Report, December 2006 Issue 1.
4.  “State-of-the-art of Wind Energy in Cold Climates” April 2003

COST TO THE LANDSCAPE
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What is landscape?
“Landscape encompasses the whole of our external environment, whether within villages, towns or cities or in the countryside”….Landscapes are considerably more than just the visual perception of a combination of landform, vegetation cover and buildings –they embody the history, land use, human culture, wildlife and seasonal changes of an area.   Landscape is considered a valuable recreational resource and a resource that evokes sensual, cultural and spiritual responses and contributes to the quality of life.”(1)

The special landscape character of Pressendye and its surrounding area.
Pressendye (619m) forms part of a curving sweep of hills, which encloses the Howe (bowl) of Cromar to the south.  It is also a major feature in the hills forming the eastern rim of the neighbouring Howe of Cushnie to the north-east.

In their publications the developers have made little reference to the fact that the southern aspect of the ridge (of which Pressendye forms the highest peak) is classified under the Aberdeenshire Council Local Plan as being part of a “Tier 3 Area of Landscape Significance”.

Policy Env\5B of the Aberdeenshire Local Plan spells out the consequences of this classification.   It states that development within or adjacent to an Area of Landscape Significance will not be permitted where its scale, location or design will detract from the quality or character of the landscape either in part or as a whole.    It would be impossible to site a wind factory anywhere on the ridge without damaging this Area of Landscape Significance which is outlined on the Main Proposals Map for the Marr Area.

The landscape character of Pressendye is important from two different perspectives which were recognised in a character study of the Cairngorms area carried out for Scottish Natural Heritage in the mid-1990s before the creation of the National Park.

• Pressendye forms a significant part of the panaromic views across the Howe of Cromar from the eastern side towards Morven.   The Howe of Cromar, a preglacial basin, principally has an agricultural landscape, characterised by elements such as farmsteads, shelterbelts, stone walls and fences. In a recent article the Scottish mountaineer, Cameron McNeish, describes how he stood at the summit of Morven gazing upon the intricate landscape of the Howe of Cromar and saw “Middle Earth”.   These wind turbines, currently amongst the largest proposed in Scotland, would tower over and dominate the small and intricate landscape of this conservation area 
  
  
Pressendye stands in a prominent position within 6km of the eastern boundary of what is now the Cairngorms National Park.  Cherished viewpoints include Morven to the west and Loch Kinord with its much-frequented footpath trails.   It can be seen from internationally renowned Munro mountains Lochnagar, Beinn a’Bhuird and Ben Avon, and from Royal Deeside along the South Deeside Road between Ballater and Dinnet, the North Deeside Road at Loch Kinord and elevated positions around Glen Tanar, which include the most easterly Munro, Mount Keen.

At the beginning of 2007 the developers made a planning application (2) for a 70m anemometer mast (to gather data about the wind) at Pressendye.  Even at this early stage, the Cairngorms National Park Authority felt it “appropriate to raise with Aberdeenshire Council at this stage, any future wind turbine proposal at this site, on the setting of the Park.”

Unless we stop the turbines on Pressendye, we run the risk of allowing the CNP to become a “mountainous island encircled in a sea of wind farms”.

The wind factory would also have a significant negative impact on the landscape of Tarland village. This Deeside village has a historic square with a hint of a by-gone era and is listed as a proposed area for conservation status in the Aberdeenshire Local Plan (Appendix 4). The 125m turbines would dominate the northern skyline from both the main road through the village and its central playing field, completely at odds with the rural character of the village.

To the north-east of Pressendye lies the tranquil Howe of Cushnie.  Early on a summer’s morning, as the sun rises over the valley of Milton of Cushnie, it displays one of its finest assets - its skies.  Throughout the year, wonderful skies can be seen on an impressive scale in a range of dispositions, from sunny to brooding.  Skies bringing the inevitable rain or snow keep the pastures and habitat alive.  The ultimate source of water on our hills, they are essential for our survival.

A wind factory on Pressendye would be widely visible from the Victorian Heritage Trail on stretches of the B9119 from Aboyne to Queen’s View.   It would also be visible from Aboyne Green where the annual Highland Games are held. Would Queen Victoria have been amused?

The Howe of Cromar is also an area of ancient historic importance with evidence of human habitation going back to 4,000BC.    In the 1930s, Sir Alexander Ogston described the many ancient remains in the area in his book, “The Prehistoric Antiquities of the Howe of Cromar”.

Tomnaverie Recumbent Stone Circle (RSC), with majestic Lochnagar as a backdrop, is considered by many to be the best example of its type, partly because of its setting.   They are found mainly in NE Scotland.  It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument under the protection of the Scottish Government.   Much work has been done in recent years to restore the site of this precious RSC.   Part of it was eaten away by quarrying at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.    It is an irony, not lost on some who have contributed to its restoration, that, just as work concludes with the filling-in of the quarry, a new threat appears on the adjacent hill.

Also exposed to the degradation of its setting is possibly the oldest man-made structure in NE Scotland, the long Blue Cairn of Balnagowan.  There are remnants of many other stone circles and cairns, Iron Age hut circles, Iron and Bronze Age fortifications and Pictish symbol stones.  Dotted around there are earth houses (souterrains), with a fine example at Culsh, another Scheduled Monument.  Even the cairn at the summit of  Pressendye is thought to be an ancient burial cairn. With the erection of a wind factory on Pressendye the profusion of prehistoric and historic features would acquire an industrial backdrop wholly out of character with  ancient sites.

Please consider what our landscape means to you and write to the Council.

References
(1) Landscape Institute Guidelines on Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Assessment 2002
(2) See Aberdeenshire Council’s Planning Dept website:

THE COST TO THE ECONOMY/COMMUNITY
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The overall effects of subsidy
On the widest scale, money is drawn from every household; on a local scale the presence of a wind factory can affect house prices and the local economy, including the flow of tourists.

The existence of wind factories is already affecting the amount you pay for electricity.   Electricity from wind and wave is very expensive to produce, but the Government has agreed to increase the amount of electricity from “renewable” sources to try and reduce electricity generated from coal and gas. Part of your usual bill - up to £90 a year - goes towards subsidising renewable energy schemes, even if you do not choose to add an optional surcharge.   This is because the power companies are obliged to buy a certain amount of electricity from renewables generating companies under the Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROC) scheme.

Michael Jefferson, Policies Chairman of the World Renewable Energy Network, and former Chief Economist of Shell said: “We as business and domestic electricity consumers are paying very, very heavily for the subsidies that go to developers.   The wind element of it is now about £600m a year.” (1)  This will soon reach £1 billion a year.

Although new technological developments are often subsidised – initially at least – independent experts agree that there are far more cost-effective ways of saving CO2 than subsidising the wind factory industry.

Most people agree that the first thing we can do is save energy and use less.   Yet in 2006, an extra £10 million for research into renewables was paid for by a cut in the UK energy conservation (eg, insulation) budget.

Jobs lost and gained.
To date there are around 4000 jobs in the UK wind sector.   Offshore wind developments could increase this to 20,000 according to the UK government. (2)   The turbines are not manufactured in the UK, so much of the income through subsidies is going abroad.   Scotland produces around 20% more electricity than it needs at peak demand.  Around 20% of that generated is exported to England, so much of any increase in production will be for export.   More reliable river, wave and tidal schemes would produce electricity more efficiently.   As this sector is relatively undeveloped at present, Scottish industry could take advantage and be involved at the start of a period of rapid investment and growth.

A wind factory requires no permanent staff. A small number of short-term jobs are created during construction and maintenance but the engineers and specialist erectors often come from abroad.

It appears that the best the regional economy can expect is some labouring, forestry work, the provision of haulage and plant, some track/road/quarry/concrete construction.   Little of this is guaranteed to trickle down to the local economy.

In contrast wind factories threaten to destroy jobs in the tourist industry on which the region relies for over 25,000 jobs. Income for local residents does not just depend on the effect of the wind factory on the immediate area.   The Cairngorms National Park is a source of customers for businesses which depend on its ability to attract visitors.   If the Park is surrounded by wind turbines, it will become a less attractive destination. The Forestry Commission, which acts as landowner on Pressendye, is a partner in the National Park Plan (2007).   In 2006 Aberdeen was in the top 20 UK tourist destinations for the first time.   Rural areas will not gain full advantage from the spin-off from this if they become industrialised.

Property prices
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors said in 2004 that 60% of its members reported a drop in the value of residential property within view of a new wind factory.   This effect continues even if less severely degree. It was reported in the Times that a family in Cumbria was awarded compensation after buying a house from someone who failed to disclose a wind “farm” proposal.  

Council Tax rebates have been awarded to people living near wind factories in recognition of the loss of amenity

Given a choice, most people would not buy a house near a power station.   The sites of conventional power stations are chosen much more carefully and take up a tiny fraction of the land area which would be needed for a wind factory producing the same amount of power.

Most of the surveys quoted by the industry were carried out before the rush to cover the countryside in wind turbines became a cause for concern.

What benefits for the local community?
Through “benefit trusts” set up entirely at the discretion the developers, communities over a wide area around wind factories may be offered payments from an annual lump sum.   This is sometimes based on the supposed maximum output of the turbines.   Funds may be given to projects which must apply to the trust committee and so not all residents benefit.   It is possible that the funds may not be available for the promised period as the company could be sold or go bust, as has happened to a waste management company

The Aberdeenshire Local Plan recommends that affected communities within a radius of 20km of the wind factory should be directly consulted by the developers.   This covers an area of over 1250 sqr km.   Any “community benefits” are likely to be thin on the ground even if those further away aren’t aware they may be eligible.

(1) BBC Radio “Costing the Earth”, August 2007
(2) JR Etherington The Case against Wind “Farms”, 2006

RECREATION
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People who use the area for recreation will lose a great deal.
This area of natural beauty is of interest to the tourist, walker, naturalist, bird-watcher, historian and paraglider alike.
Ramblers can currently enjoy many well known walks in the Howes of Cromar and Cushnie, and also Towie and the surrounding hills.  There are several routes which can be taken by those who enjoy walking or riding over the hills and grouse moors from Cushnie and Towie on the northern side to Tarland to the south.   A way-marked footpath has recently been created over Pressendye.

The trails at Burn O’ Vat and around Lochs Kinord and Davan are popular with visitors.   The wind factory at Pressendye would stretch across the skyscape from these beauty spots.

This is a favourite area for bird-watchers: from the wetlands and fishing loch overlooked by the MacRobert Trust hide to Lochs Kinord and Davan at the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve.

Pressendye is a favoured haunt of  paragliders who may be seen soaring above its upper slopes.

Campers and caravaners are well-served with sites in the Howe of Cromar and many people who currently spend holidays walking in the local hills may be forced to go elsewhere..