How to block a coastal wind farm

Over lunch, Gustav, an engineer working with a wind farm corporation, gives Heinrich the background on the blocking of a coastal wind farm.

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Gustav: We can’t get government approval. The energy minister has a house on the coast overlooking the site. At four miles offshore the turbines will be half a degree above the horizon, which he has said privately will interfere with his view.

Heinrich: So he blocked it?

Gustav: Not directly. Naturally, he doesn’t want to be seen to be anti-clean energy. But he’s matey with the defence minister. So a month back the defence minister forces through a bit of legislation…

Heinrich: In the name of national security, right?

Gustav: Of course. The legislation is nonsense, naturally. All wind farm projects have to go through a long checking procedure to ensure that they don’t interfere with radar.

Heinrich: Wind interferes with radar?

Gustav: That’s just step one. Then he gets the transport minister to add another proposal that no wind farm can be less than five miles from any shipping lanes. That will add years to the approval process.

Heinrich: Perfect case of NIMBY.

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