FOR decades the hectoring Malthusian quangos, eco-activists, politicians, charities, and left-wing managerial class have placed protecting the environment ahead of development.
But, we are now witnessing these eco-activists turning in on themselves, as the Labour Government presses ahead with plans to industrialise the countryside.
And, with billions of pounds of unreliable energy infrastructure set to doorstep many unspoilt views, it’s going to be enjoyable watching them squirm as their green virtue-signalling collides with reality.
The UK’s largest solar development, which will come on-line next year, is a case in point. Currently under construction the 860-acre Cleve Hill development engulfs the Graveney salt marshes, near Faversham in Kent.
Green Thumb, Eco-Finger
Its 560,000 solar panels, some on steel plinths the height of a double decker bus, are surrounded by a nature reserve and home to many, native wetland bird species.
Whilst this is the type of ‘green’ energy development craved by the environmental lobby it awakens a more atavistic response from some.
Supporting the state-subsidised development are Friends of the Earth, whilst the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), The Greens, Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPB have opposed it.
The fundamentalists at the Friends of the Earth chose to pitch their tents on the moral high-ground telling the local paper the Faversham Eye “Given the pre-eminent issue of the Climate Emergency, the conclusion for the Friends of the Earth is inescapable: not to support the proposed solar farm would seem ridiculous. It would certainly leave us open to a charge of ‘nimbyism’.
However the Kent branch of CPRE succumbed to a more basic, naturalist emotion: “Graveney Marshes is an extremely special place. It is flanked on three sides by protected nature reserves and was afforded high landscape value by Swale borough council.
“One could stand on the marshes and without moving watch the sun rise and set with its open panoramic views towards Sheppey, Whitstable and parts of Faversham. It was one of the last tranquil places around Faversham with incredible views of the night sky. And now it’s gone.”
The cognitive contortions of the eco-activists were amply demonstrated by one contributor to the debate who agonised: “Like many of us who acknowledge the reality of climate change, I recognise that renewable energy is crucial for our future
“And yet, the feeling that prevailed was a strong opposition to the proposal. But how could I be against renewable energy? I felt embarrassed when telling friends that I didn’t think this was a good idea.”
As a footnote; this 370MW solar farm was originally intended to power - intermittently - 100,000 homes, but its output has now been been purchased by Shell and Tesco to help them achieve their net zero goals!
Net Zero Fantasies
On coming to office Labour lifted the ban on onshore wind farms whilst mapping out its Net Zero energy goals, which are to:
-Triple onshore solar to 50GW
-Double onshore wind to 35GW
-Quadruple offshore wind to 55GW
As a result hundreds of square miles of land will be industrialised with a multitude of wind and solar projects and their associated storage and transmission infrastructure - pylons and batteries.
And, developers are already breaching the barricades of the local planning offices with proposals, which again are creating self-inflicted agonies for the eco-lobby.
They are also causing headaches for the local politicians who blithely crave so-called ‘green’ energy - when its not in their back-yard.
In the Pennines, planning applications are being brought forward for two huge wind farms on the Lancashire and Yorkshire sides.
Spanish company Worldwide Renewable Energy is pressing head with plans for 300 MW Calderdale Wind Farm which will feature 65 Blackpool Tower-height turbines at 200 meters high.
Its earmarked for a 10 square mile site on Walshaw Moor - near the eco-hotbed of Hebden Bridge - and is already facing opposition.
An Industrial Landscape
Steven Oldroyd, of The Calderdale Windfarm Action group, with almost 1,500 members, is not happy. “This will look absolutely horrendous. It just turns a wild area into an industrial landscape.”
The Walshaw Moor Estate covers some 16,000 acres of mixed habitat including blanket bog, wet and dry heath, acid grassland, flushes, bracken and woodland.
The prospective Green MP for the Calder Valley Kieran Turner, prevaricates, saying: “The Green Party believes in sustainable solutions. In the case of energy generation, this means projects need details of the total carbon footprint and environmental impact, of the site itself and all its connectivity infrastructure. In this example, we need more detail than has yet been made available in the scoping report.”
Sitting on the fence is the newly-elected Labour MP for Calder Valley, Josh Fenton-Glynn, said: “It’s hard to say whether I’m for or against a proposal that hasn’t been made yet.”
Across the Pennines plans for the UK’s largest wind farm have been unveiled for by developers Cubico for land near Rochdale in Lancashire, to be known as Scout Moor II.
Local Green Party councillor Julie Adshead unconvincingly says she ‘welcomes the windfarm proposal, in principle, adding: “The provision of renewable energy is just one part of the jigsaw and we also hope that resources can be directed to help our communities with retrofit measures and affordable energy.”
Whilst initially panting for Net Zero like a Spaniel on a grouse moor, we are now witnessing a marked change of tone amongst the eco-activists.
Now that their beloved ‘renewable’ developments are coming to their backyards the preening, green, de-growth groupies appear a little less deferential to the cause.
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