AN UNFORTUNATE SLUR

I was very disappointed with your report (Windpower Monthly, September 1995) on National Wind Power's involvement in the Trysglwyn Windfarm for which Wind Energy Group (WEG) won a NFFO-3 contract. The implication that the NFFO bid was a ruse by NWP to circumvent a NFFO cap (which was only applied after bids had closed) is an unfortunate slur on the people involved who have worked hard on this project for over four years.

The project was started by myself and others as WEG employees in 1990, but when the development activities were transferred to NWP we carried on the planning application on WEG's behalf. We then fought and won a tough public inquiry in 1993 on the basis of using WEG turbines. However, the site is small at 14 turbines, it has significant planning restrictions and for these and other reasons, earlier this year, WEG opted not to proceed. NWP agreed to purchase the rights to the project and the construction contract for Trysglwyn Windfarm has now been let to Bonus A/S.

The wind industry should be pleased that this excellent demonstration site will at last be developed to further the cause of appropriate sustainable development. I hope you will give the project a better review when it is successfully completed next summer.

Peter Hinson, National Wind Power, Bourne End, UK