Shooters Bottom, Somerset

More than fifteen years after the UK got its first modern wind turbine, and four years after we first applied to the local council to build one – Somerset joined the energy revolution in June 2008.

It’s just one windmill but it will provide enough green electricity each year to power 5% of the homes in the Mendip district. So just another nineteen then and all the homes in this part of Somerset could be powered by a clean, (endless) local power source. Marvellous.

We’re working towards that goal right now.

But why on earth did it take four years to get permission for this one?

Since it’s been up, we’ve been inundated with e-mails and calls from local people – who just love it.

Another classic example of the two truisms of wind energy in the UK. Local people think it’s a good idea, they want to see more, but local councils stand in the way.