Thinking small, thinking big

Sometimes I hesitate before separating my waste. Especially the small things - like metal screws, or plastic lids. Or tearing off the plastic bits when recycling cardboard packaging. ‘I could spend my life doing this’ is what it sometimes feels like.

It’s a state of mind that says ‘be careful’ in every area of day-to-day activity. Trying when I’m cooking to use the minimum of heat and not to forget to turn down the gas. When boiling the kettle, only filling it with what I need or flasking the excess.

So the idea of being able to help the environment with such a large-scale initiative as the Newburgh Wind Project excites me.

The fact that only 2 turbines could generate electricity equivalent to the entire needs of Newburgh I find astounding. In global terms of course it’s still minute, but if we can encourage other communities to follow our example, then it could lead to meaningful change.

I have lived in Newburgh for just 2 years and in Scotland for 22. I’ve felt more at home in this wee Fife town than I could have imagined - being a dog walker helps - so. I feel slightly uncomfortable about being involved in something that has the potential to really upset some people who’ve lived here all their lives. What I want even more than the wind turbines is for the local people to want them, and then, if and when they go up, to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing something they had a hand in, producing green energy right here on our doorsteps.

The drop-in day on 4th June was for me an important opportunity to listen to the real concerns of the locals, and to explain what I feel about the project and being involved in it. Though the main vibe was really positive, some of the people who turned up expressed opposition, in one or two cases quite vehemently. I did feel however that this was within a context of mutual respect, with everyone feeling able to freely express their views.

I would urge any Newburghians out there, whether they made it on 4th June or not, to make use of this blog to honestly air their opinions, whatever they may be.

And no matter what happens, it still won’t stop me recycling old screws - well most of the time anyway.

Dave J Ford, member of the Wind Farm Action Group

www.davejford.co.uk

Climate Challenge Fund application

An application to the Climate Challenge Fund was submitted following the public consultation exercise and drop-in day at the TICC. CCF are currently checking this to make sure all the relevant information has been included. Once this process is complete, the application will be considered with reference to the fund's mission and guidance (see Links, right). Updates will be posted here.

Blog start

The Community Trust's wind project team are currently compiling and categorising the comments received, both positive and negative, and will start this blog by publishing responses to them.