The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has unveiled plans to build a wind turbine at its UK headquarters in Sandy, Bedfordshire.
Despite parts of the popular press casting wind turbines as dastardly enemies of birds and other fauna, the RSPB see wind energy as part of our toolkit in tackling climate change – which is, in their words, ‘the single biggest threat to the long term survival of birds and wildlife’.
If the charity’s head offices at The Lodge nature reserve are agreed as suitable, the wind turbine will measure 100 metres at its tip. Projected figures for the turbine suggest that it will generate around two thirds of the RSPB’s electricity requirements across all of its UK operations.
RSPB Conservation Director, Martin Harper, said: “We are keen to promote the use of wind energy where it does not result in unacceptable impacts to wildlife and we are confident that this is a suitable location to do so.
“All of us have a part to play in helping to meet the UK Government’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, and this turbine will be one more step along the way.
“We hope that by siting a wind turbine at our UK headquarters, we will demonstrate to others that with a thorough environmental assessment and the right planning and design, renewable energy and a healthy, thriving environment can go hand in hand.”
Considered, and arguably, well-balanced comments to add to the sometimes colourful debate about wind energy.