Preston proposes 12m wind power project

Preston City Council is proposing a three-turbine wind project on land it owns at a site near Riversway close to the River Ribble in a step which could see the city eventually become carbon neutral.

The £12m proposal is to generate green electricity for the city from three 3MW wind turbines with the surplus being sold to the National Grid and any income generated ploughed back into council services.

The three 3MW wind turbines would be enough to power thousands of homes with green electricity.

The council believes it is a great way of improving its environmental credentials and creating a new income stream to secure council services in the future.

The proposal is in the pre-planning stages and the council is working with partners and a host of advisors to ensure that the location is suitable and the project is feasible. A planning application for a 70m test mast will be submitted later this month.

The scheme is one of the first of its kind in the country. Coun Robert Boswell, cabinet member for the environment, said: “This is a pioneering and ambitious scheme for the city. We are serious about renewable energy, reducing our carbon emissions and pushing Preston forward as a carbon neutral city.

“If successful, there are major benefits for the local economy, as income generated from the project can be re-invested back into Preston.”