Ecotricity submits plans for green power at Shooters Bottom
- Consultation shows locals in favour of wind power -

13 May 2003

Ecotricity, the UK's largest independent supplier of renewable energy is submitting a planning application to build a state of the art wind turbine in Mendip near the town of Wells. If the project gets the go ahead it will power nearly 1,800 local homes - 4.4% of the Mendip District with clean green electricity making a big contribution to Somerset's renewable energy targets.

Prior to submitting the application, Ecotricity has been carrying out a period of public consultation with the local residents and held an open day on 12 March in Wells. Ecotricity staff displayed photomontages of the proposed project and were on hand to answer questions from the hundreds of people who turned up at the open day. The response from the majority of people was extremely positive.

Dale Vince, managing director of Ecotricity comments, "We were chuffed with the positive response we received from people who came along to the open day and hope that the council takes on board the fact that this is not only a suitable site for the production of green electricity but it has support from people living in the area.

"The exciting news is that for the first time Somerset residents can buy the electricity generated by this wind turbine to power their homes - and at the same price as the local supplier. By switching to Ecotricity local people will be taking direct responsibility for the electricity they use and tackling climate change.

"I hope it will also raise awareness of the environmental benefits of renewable energy - this project alone will prevent the emission of over 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Accepting responsibility for the way we choose to live is an important step towards achieving sustainable living."

The proposed wind turbine with a hub height of 67 metres will be located on Shooters Bottom Farm in Mendip, approximately 2.5 kms south of Chewton Mendip.

Apart from the obvious advantages of receiving green electricity, the local area will also benefit from £225,000 of the overall capital costs for the project - which is an estimated £1.2 million - through taking on local contractors and suppliers for a majority of the building work including access roads and turbine foundations.

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