Consultation on wind farms plans

The wind farms would have up to three to five turbines

An energy firm is to hold a series of meetings for people to find out more about plans to build wind farms across County Durham.

EDF Energy has identified five potential sites at Trimdon Grange, Broom Hill, Oakenshaw, High Hedley and Royal Oak.

People are being invited to drop-in sessions to ask about the projects.

Any issues raised will form part of the Environmental Impact Assessments being carried out on the sites.

Atmospheric conditions

The proposals are for wind farms with up to three to five turbines, which would be capable of producing electricity for a total of 23,000 homes.

The company runs two wind farms in the north-east of England, at High Hedley and the other at Kirkheaton, in Northumberland.

EDF Energy already has three turbines at the High Hedley site and the proposals are to add a maximum of four more.

The company has been given permission to install meteorological monitoring masts at the sites to check wind speeds and atmospheric conditions.

Project manager Tony Scorer said: "These sessions are an integral part of our preliminary investigations for these projects.

"Local opinion is very important to us and we would encourage everyone who has a question or who is interested in the projects to come along."

Environmental factors

The company also wants to build a 30-turbine wind farm 1.5km off the coast of Redcar, on Teesside, which would generate power for 72,000 homes.

But some residents and the Northern TUC have raised concerns, saying it is too close to the shore and would damage the environment and fishing industry.

The company said it had taken environmental factors into account.

There will be five drop-in sessions at various locations around the county starting on Thursday and will run from 1100 to 2000 BST.