PLANS to create a 14-turbine wind farm at Bullington Cross have been submitted to three different councils.
EDF Energy Renewables has drawn up planning applications for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Winchester City Council and Test Valley Borough Council, which will all consider the proposals.
EDF wants to put 14 turbines on a site that comprises open arable farmland interspersed with areas of woodland.
The firm originally showcased plans to the public to build up to 17 turbines, but this has been reduced to 14 following consultation.
Seven of the turbines are located within the planning area for Winchester, four in Basingstoke and Deane, and three in Test Valley.
EDF said the proposed wind farm would be capable of producing up to 28MW of low carbon energy – enough to supply the annual domestic electricity requirements of approximately 13,000 homes.
Darren Cuming, onshore wind development manager at EDF Energy Renew-ables, said: “Following consultation with local residents, and the completion of detailed environmental studies, we have submitted our planning application to the councils concerned.
“EDF Energy Renewables is committed to developing new low-carbon electricity generating capacity to maintain energy supply, tackle climate change, and maintain affordable energy prices.
“We believe that the site identified at Bullington Cross is an excellent opportunity to establish a wind farm that can contribute towards these requirements.”
The Keep Hampshire Green group has been campaigning against the wind farm proposals, and is now encouraging its supporters to send an official objection to the planning authorities.
Its main reasons for being against the plans are because of the impact on the landscape and because campaigners believe wind is an “intermittent and unreliable energy source, poorly suited to the demands of the National Grid.”
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