Wind Power

Wind turbines could be placed upon the top of buildings across Leicester within the next few years. Under new plans, the council's HQ in New Walk would be one of the top spots for a wind turbine.

The Lib Dem run council also wants to get local businesses and other organisations to follow its example. Improvements in turbine technology matched with the falling costs of equipment is making it possible for organisations to invest in the new technology.

Lib Dem council leader Roger Blackmore inform the local paper; "I see no reason at all why a degree of energy generation (by wind turbines) would not be possible, particularly on tall buildings within the city centre and elsewhere. "I would think we're talking about maybe no more than two or three years ahead."

Lib Dem Stoneygate Councillor Rob Renold, chairman of the economic development and planning scrutiny committee told local press; "We've got a considerable acreage of roof space not least up there on the top of New Walk. We should be exploring the possibility of using our roof space to generate energy. The potential is there."

Developers are now being told that new buildings should be able to produce at least 10 per cent of the energy they need from renewable sources.