{{B}} Using wind to generate energy{{/B}}
Using the wind to generate energy is often considered unfeasible. In Great Britain, however, wind power is no longer a subject for cranks and dreamers.{{U}} (0)H {{/U}}The wind now generates enough electricity to supply 250,000 people. Power companies are investing heavily in the business and windmills are becoming a common sight.{{U}} (9) {{/U}}Even though wind power is clean and does not produce any greenhouse gases, pressure groups are determined to prevent its spread.

The National Wind Power Company wants to develop a huge wind farm on the top of Flaight Hill, an extremely beautiful area of Northern England. If they are given the go-ahead, the company will erect 44 rotors there.{{U}} (10) {{/U}}They complain that the 60 metre turbines will spoil one of Britain's last remaining areas of natural beauty. They say that this is totally unacceptable.{{U}} (11) {{/U}}They say that because the turbines are usually seen from some way away, their size would not be noticed because of the scale of the countryside.

The idea that wind farms ruin rural areas is not accepted by the British Wind Energy Association. The only problem is that people haven't got used to them yet.{{U}} (12) {{/U}}They also claim that using the wind is an essential element in attempts to reduce pollution. And this is not all. {{U}} (13) {{/U}}To support this, they point to statistics which show that 51 per cent of the power generated by wind turbines can be extracted, compared with about 30 per cent of that generated by coal-fired power stations.

The government is keen to boost the amount of electricity generated by renewable energy sources. In 1994, renewables, including the wind, produced just 2 per cent of Britain's electricity, compared with almost half from coal-powered stations. In future, the government would like to see at least 10 per cent of the nation's power coming from the wind.{{U}} (14) {{/U}}This, however, would cover up to 1,250 square miles of countryside. One answer is to locate some of them at sea. It is estimated that as much as 20 per cent of Britain's energy needs could be supplied by, offshore wind turbines by the year 2025.
A. Local residents are determined to fight this plan.
B. They also dismiss claims that wind technology is inefficient.
C. However, this development has not been universally welcomed.
D. To achieve this, some 40,000 300-kilowatt turbines would be needed.
E. In a press release they state that the countryside is always changing and they deny that wind machines look ugly.
F. Recent research, however, has indicated some new problems.
G. Such allegations are dismissed out of hand by the company.
H. It is now regarded as an important and economically viable source of energy.