Wind energy a vital but normal part of our future

The use of wind energy needs to be seen as “normal” TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall told a major conference on green energy.

The “real food” campaigner called on more farmers to introduce renewable technologies when he addressed the symposium at Mount Edgcumbe House, in South East Cornwall.

He said: “We need to move towards the approach that wind energy and turbines are fundamentally normal. It makes total sense,” he added. “We need to encourage the media to see this as a vital but normal part of the future.”

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said there had so far been a lack of “rationality” about the debate on wind power, with turbines still a thorny subject for some rural communities and sectors of the media.

But he stressed the debate should move on from simply talking about visual impact and said: “Wind power is here, it’s not about where we have it, but how we use it in the most effective way.”

He said it was important for farms and businesses already using wind energy to promote those “success stories” to encourage others to follow suit.

“Then we have normality,” he said.

Mr Fearnley-Wittinstall, who opened his River Cottage Canteen and Deli in Plymouth’s Royal William Yard in 2011, addressed about 50 industry experts, green campaigners and media representatives at the debate, entitled Reframing the Conversation, and chaired by Western Morning News editor Bill Martin.

Stephen Gilbert