It is exciting news that the first Essex onshore wind farm, at Earls Hall Farm, Clacton, has just been approved after a public inquiry.

We strongly supported this proposed wind farm of five turbines, which would provide the equivalent electricity needs of the whole of Brightlingsea and St Osyth – or far more homes when they are energy- efficient.

We had walked around the site and surrounding roads on many visits. We visited Deeping St Nicholas, in Lincolnshire, to see a similar wind farm of eight turbines. We stood underneath them to hear the sound – it was a gentle hum.

We have just supported another wind farm of ten turbines at Hockley Farm, Bradwell, at the recent public inquiry, which would supply the electricity for the equivalent of a third of the Maldon district. Colchester Council supports it.

We have to cut climate change emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, which is why we have to act now.

Catastrophic climate change and sea-level rises put our Essex coastal districts at risk. We must support renewable energy sources.

The eastern region has a commitment to produce 17 per cent of our electricity from onshore wind farms by 2020 and 44 per cent, including offshore wind, by 2020. Norfolk and Cambridgeshire already have many wind farms.

But electricity is only 18 per cent of our climatechanging energy use. Government figures show 34 per cent of energy used is from transport and 48 per cent from heating.

The UK has a commitment of 15 per cent of ALL energy to come from renewable energy by 2020.

Is nuclear power necessary to stop “the lights going out”? No – it provides only 13 per cent of electricity and three per cent of all energy.

Taxpayers have picked up an £83billion bill to decommission the current reactors. Now, the nuclear industry is demanding funding is taken from renewables to support hugely costly new nuclear plants with high level radioactive waste stored on site for the first time.

Paula Whitney
Co-ordinator
Colchester & NE Essex

Friends of the EarthShears Crescent
West Mersea