Wind turbine planned for Sandy headquarters

The RSPB has teamed up with green energy company Ecotricity and submitted a planning application for a wind turbine to be erected at their headquarters in Bedfordshire.

If the plans are approved then the wind turbine will be erected at The Lodge nature reserve near Sandy, at the earliest, in autumn 2014 and will measure 100m at its highest point. The turbine is predicted to produce the equivalent of two thirds of the RSPB’s total UK electricity needs.

The Lodge (Photo: Bogbumper).

The charity believes that renewable energy is an essential tool in the fight against climate change, which they say poses the single biggest threat to the long-term survival of birds and wildlife. They are committed to reducing their carbon footprint by generating energy from renewable sources wherever possible. The RSPB has been undertaking environmental assessments and are confident that the wind turbine will have no major impacts on populations of birds, bats and other plants and animals.

Martin Harper, Conservation Director of the RSPB, said:

We care deeply about wildlife, not just today but for the generations to come. So we cannot stand by as climate change threatens some of our most precious species. A wind turbine at our UK headquarters is the single biggest step we can take to reduce our carbon emissions. We know that wind turbines in the wrong place can damage wildlife, and we have objected to proposals up and down the country which we believe would harm species. However all the evidence shows that when they are sited carefully wind turbines can produce clean, green energy without harming birds and other species.

We have put environmental assessments at the forefront of this project, making sure that there are no significant impacts to wildlife in the area. We hope that by building a wind turbine at our UK headquarters, we will demonstrate to others that with a thorough environmental assessment, the correct planning and location, renewable energy options like this one in Sandy and a healthy, thriving environment can go hand in hand.

Dale Vince, Founder of Ecotricity, said:

This is a significant project for Ecotricity and the RSPB and we are very happy to have reached the stage where, after completing extensive assessments, we have submitted a full application. The proposed windmill at The Lodge would help to substantially reduce the RSPB’s carbon emissions as well as their energy costs, while remaining a good neighbour to wildlife, local residents and visitors to the area.