Download (draft) 20-11-2015 - Alverdiscott and Huntshaw Parish Council

Alverdiscott and Huntshaw Parish Council Renewable Energy Policy (draft) 20-11-2015
The Parish Council recognises that climate change is the natural norm and that it is good practise to
ensure that the parish is able to readily adapt to that inevitable change rather than attempting to
prevent it. Having said that the Parish Council recognises that anthropogenic carbon dioxide
emissions may be changing the natural climate change cycle and it would be good practise to
minimise this effect at the same time as maximising local resilience.
The Council recognises that it is important to promote energy efficiency and where appropriate the
generation of renewable energy (that which are not dependent on fossil fuels the burning of which
lead to a long term net input of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere)
We note that the Parishes are already net exporters of renewable energy hosting approximately
8MW of solar farm capacity and 150 kW of wind energy.
In order to reduce long term carbon emissions in the two parishes we would wish to support the
following.
1. The change to more energy efficient devices such as LED lighting. We would encourage as
many parishioners to switch to this form of lighting as soon as possible. This could lead to a
80-90% reduction in power used for lighting.
2. The upgrading of levels of insulation in our existing housing stock and that any new build
domestic property should be “zero carbon “rated.
3. We would support roof based solar voltaic panels and solar water heating for private
residences except where it would conflict with any “protected” nature of the structure.
4. We would encourage all commercial/ agricultural buildings to have solar voltaics
incorporated into their roofs.
5. We would generally support small scale ground mounted solar panels where all suitable roof
space has been used but only where it does not raise objections from neighbours (small
scale defined as less than 15 Kw output) and the power is for local use.
6. We would support the planting of trees specifically to provide fuel for wood burning stoves
(this provides no net increase in long term atmospheric carbon dioxide.)
7. We would encourage the use of ground and air sourced heat pumps.
8. We would encourage all new build houses to be designed to maximise passive solar heating.
We will not support additional large scale solar projects unless it can be demonstrated that
these would be unobtrusive within the landscape and the majority of local parishioners are in
favour of the development.
Wind Energy Policy
The Council notes that wind energy is a useful local resource but due to its unpredictability will not
be able to supply all local energy needs until a practical storage solution exists. Such storage would
be able to store wind energy production when it occurs and distribute it when it is needed. It is likely
that should suitable storage means become available the parish would be able to be self- sufficient
in electrical energy generated from wind.
Given the current state of technology the Parish Council --------------1. We will not support applications for wind turbines from local applicants who have not
maximised their roof based solar electricity capacity.
2. Where a local applicant seeks to erect a single wind turbine its capacity should be
commensurate with their proven electricity usage.
3. We will not support wind turbines where the majority of the power produced is not
consumed by the applicant.
4. Where an applicant meets the above criteria we would support applications providing they
do not impinge on neighbours visual amenity and those neighbours do not object and the
application does not adversely affect the local landscape and the wider landscape in a
cumulative way.
5. We will object to larger scale applications for multiple turbines and larger single turbines
(>40 m to tip)where they are situated within 800 metres of the centres of the following
locations Alverdiscott, Guscott, Huntshaw and Stoney Cross and within 500 m of any nonassociated private dwelling.
6. No turbine should be within 450m of a private dwelling unless express permission has been
obtained from all affected properties and is evidenced to the Parish Council.
7. We will actively seek to protect to landscape context of our churches and historic
monuments and ensure that they are not compromised by wind energy development.
8. Should a group of parishioners wish to erect a turbine on a community basis we would work
with them to realise the project. Parish support would be evidenced by a local referendum.
We would however actively seek to protect the amenity of those against the project.
9. We will not support any wind energy development which does not provide a financial
contribution to the parish in which it is situated.