Plans for wind turbine at Walkers’ Skelmersdale plant announced
31.05.2011
As part of its commitment to responsible environmental
management and in support of national and local Government targets
to tackle climate change, Walkers, part of PepsiCoUK&Ireland,
is planning to install a wind turbine at its Skelmersdale factory
onPennine Place.
Walkers is working in partnership with RWE npower, one of
theUK's leading wind turbine operators to install the 125-metre
tall turbine. If approved by West Lancashire Borough Council,
it would generate approximately 30 per cent of the energy at the
Skelmersdale plant and cut carbon dioxide emissions by
approximately 3000 tonnes per year.
Before submitting a planning application, local residents and
businesses are invited to review the plans for the wind turbine and
provide comments on the proposal.
A public exhibition will be held at Walkers' Skelmersdale site
on Friday, 17th June from 4pm - 7pm and Saturday,
18th June from 10am - 3pm. Members of the community will
have the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback and see
visuals showing different views of the proposed turbine.
Simon Ely, site leader for Walkers in Skelmersdale,
said:"Walkers is very committed to minimising its impact on the
environment. Our parent company PepsiCo aims to be fossil fuel free
in theUKby 2023 and by investing in a wind turbine here in
Skelmersdale we can play an important role in this strategy. The
turbine will enable us to generate around a third of the
electricity used at our Skelmersdale site, which is enough to power
around 1500 average-sized homes."
"We have carried out extensive research and technical
surveys to establish, and help minimise, the potential impact on
our surroundings and neighbours. The next step is to share and
discuss our plans with the local community. We would welcome all
comments and feedback, so hope that people will take the
opportunity to come and speak to our project team."
If planning permission is granted, Walkers is aiming to install
the turbine towards the end of 2012 and it would be designed to
operate for 20 years.