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Region's energy future is blowing in the wind
Wind farms around Kettering are helping the town lead the way in green energy production.
Kettering will get three quarters of its energy needs from wind power in the next five years and provide a third of the 2020 low carbon energy target for the whole East Midlands.
The 10-turbine Burton Wold Wind Farm near Burton Latimer already provides a third of Kettering's energy needs.
The town, which has a population of 81,000, will supply 29.8 per cent of the energy target for the East Midlands – about four million people – once the Burton Wold extension and the New Albion Wind Farm, between Rushton and Pipewell, are operational.
Jonathan Hornett of Northants Green Party said: "It's pretty awesome. It's putting Kettering on the green map.
"We are leading the way and it's impressive for Kettering."
As the only wind farm in the East Midlands, Burton Wold already supplies 16 per cent of the East Midland's 2010 low carbon energy target of 122 megawatts and 11.4 per cent of the 2020 target of 175 megawatts.
Based on the wind farms producing 30 per cent of their operational capacity, the three wind farms, which have all been granted planning permission and must be built within the next five years, will generate a total of 1.7 per cent of the region's energy needs.
If planning permission is granted to all wind farms in Northamptonshire which are being considered by planning authorities, the county will provide almost 90 per cent of the East Midland's 2020 target for low carbon energy.
But many of the applications are in Daventry and both Mr Hornett and Grahame Jordan, of the Pro Wind Alliance, said Daventry trailed Kettering in its handling of wind farm applications. Mr Jordan said: "Kettering is notably good by comparison with other areas. It has been forward thinking."
Mr Jordan said Northamptonshire was better placed to deliver wind power than Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, where interference from communication and radar waves, existing power lines and urban development make it impractical.
Pat Booth, 68, who lives near the site of the New Albion Wind Farm, said: "I'm quite surprised by the figures.
"It's really excellent. I didn't realise it was that much. I would advise anyone to support a move to have that much energy produced
naturally."
Andrew Pritchard, director of planning at the East Midlands Regional Assembly, praised Kettering for leading the way.
He said: "Kettering Council has done a lot of research on local energy issues and has been processing applications in a very timely fashion.
"Other local authorities may benefit from taking a similarly pro-active approach."
Factfile
The Burton Wold Wind Farm is capable of producing 20MW of electricity a year.
Once the Burton Wold extension and New Albion wind farms are operational, wind farms around Kettering will be capable of producing 52.2MW.
The East Midlands' target for low carbon energy production is 122MW of installed capacity by 2010 and 175MW by 2020.
11 wind farms in the county are being considered by planning officials.
If all were accepted, Northamptonshire wind farms would have an installed capacity of 153.4MW.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
