The
Guardian Environment News Network provides new and comments from the Worlds
best environment websites. The article published Friday, February 15 (2013) on
the Guardian titled “Kent Prison Goes Green With Huge Wind Turbines” explains
that an unlikely business partnership has developed between Her Majesties Pleasure
(HMP) prison and the United Kingdoms green energy transition. The island of
Sheppey in Kent is home to HMP and has recently become home to two 2.3
Mega-Watt wind turbines. The wind energy developers, Partnerships for
Renewables (PfR) establishes renewable energy projects on public sector land.
After collaboration with the Sheppey Prisons Cluster and the Ministry of
Justice (MoJ), the PfR formally opened the wind turbines on Sheppey Island February
15, 2013.
The prison
will receive a percentage of the profits from the power sold by the wind
turbines. This will help alleviate the strings on the “public purse”. The PfR
is planning on installing a private transmission line between the wind turbines
and the prison so that the prison can receive energy directly from the
turbines. The flow of clean energy from the turbines to the prison will
decrease energy bills and the carbon footprint of the prison. Overall this is a
win win situation for the prison, the HMP will benefit financially by butting
energy costs, profit from the energy generated by the turbines and reduced
their negative impact on the environment.
The PfR
secured public support before construction of the turbines. A community benefit
program was launched which will provide 10,000 dollars to support projects in
the local area. Wind power is a clean and cheap source of energy but the giant
spinning blades could endanger birds that fly into the turbines. This community
benefit program will also support habitat management and bird monitoring in the
area. Conservative MP Gordon Henderson congratulates the PfR for the
professional manner in which the project on Sheppey Island was constructed.
Henderson also stated "I’m a big supporter of renewable
energy, not only from an environmental perspective, but because I believe it is
vital to long term energy security in our country". The wind initiative
will benefit the prison on Sheppey Island and the entire community.
Caroline Schenck
February 16, 2013
11:15 a.m.
The Guardian. February 15, 2013. Web. Accessed
February 16, 2013
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