The environmental issues caused by an entrusting company
Entrust is one of the leading companies in United Kingdom for wind, solar and telecoms planning and environmental consultancies. The company offers technical planning and environmental solutions to different clients across UK and Ireland (Entrust). Due to the diverse nature of the company, its operations are prone to many environmental issues that have the potential of causing greater risks to flora and fauna. Recently, the company caused a major environmental issue in one of its projects that called for the government intervention. Engineering companies carryout various operations that involve clearing of vegetation, excavation, burning of fossil fuels, and disposing of materials to the environment. All these problems are environmental issues that lead to either pollution or destruction of the environment. The entrusting company designs and installs wind turbines that have less impact on the environment compared to other forms of energy like the fossil fuel. However, wind is a major environmental issue caused by wind energy generation.
Recent years has seen an increased number of installed wind turbines to increase the power capacity in the United Kingdom. The rapid development of wind power brought many concerns from local communities over the possible environmental issues associated with wind turbines. Many people objected the installation of wind turbines near their residences calling for the government to carry out further investigations on the suitability of the project.
Noise is a form of pollution that is highly condemned by the department of environmental conservation because it interferes with normal operations. Modern wind turbines have noise specifications ranging to a distance of 200 meters. The company violated the requirement that allows wind farms to be elected at a distance of 500 meters from the main town or the nearest homestead. The installation of wind generating power near the major cities in UK by the company resulted into many complaints from the locals. Businesses and residential living in the neighborhood described the phenomenon as one of the most irritating noise of its kind in the city. Additionally, the locals with the effort of the government sued the engineering company for creating a disturbance and causing an environmental issue. The government provides massive subsidiaries to wind power that seems to be a waste of resources. The resources used to set up wind power generation plants should be used to fund efficiency and conservation programs in fossil fuel use. Industrial wind is destructive and causes major risks to the environment.
What caused or led to the environmental issue
The company had won three appeals to separate wind energy developments of Anglesey, North Wales. However, the company was not granted the permission because the government claimed that its operations were capable of causing major environmental issues. The major impact was on England’s network of public rights of way (Prow). Wind turbines produce high sounds when they interact with moving wind, and the quality of noise depends on the turbine design. Modern Engineers have tried to introduce designs that cause less interference, hence reducing the amount of noise produced by wind turbines. The outcomes of the environmental impact assessment towards the issue revealed that the establishment of the wind turbine in a location was against the rules of the Federal Government. Additionally, the project interfered with public rights (Policy Option 3).
On the other hand, majority of issues affecting the environment are man-initiated. The government’s key aims in environmental protection are reducing regulation and ensuring local people live in environmentally friendly habitat. Impacts caused by wind power generations could affect people both physically and psychologically. Too much noise from wind turbines could lead to damage of eardrums, causing permanent hearing disorders. Moreover, vibrations resulting from the rotation of turbines causes sleep problems, nervous disorders, and headaches. Additionally, the process of installing wind turbines in the selected location interfered with the vegetation and soil in the area. Engineers have to clear large pieces of land in order to prepare for the installation process. The wind turbine is huge and heavy gadget that requires a solid ground before being elected. The ground works done on the system causes major destruction of the soil, which when not correctly done can lead to soil erosion.
Court’s action towards the issue
The above matter was taken to court and judges were faced with challenging moments deciding the case because of the heated debate from the prosecution and defense sides (EU court rules). UK government has the responsibility of improving the quality of air and sound generated from various industries and firms in order to make the environment suitable for living. The court took a major action of giving the entrusting company the responsibility of designing sound-free turbines, or using sound proofs. Most people from nearing areas had filed complaints about high noises and vibrations coming from the wind generating power station. Additionally, another environmental group brought the land case. The case sued the company for breaching EU pollution laws calling upon the management to come up with plans to improve air quality. The company was given one year to upgrade its turbines or face immediate closure.
Works Cited
Entrust. Latest News. 2014. Web December 4, 2014
http://www.en-trust.co.uk/index.php
Guardian News and Media Limited. (2014). EU court rules UK government must clean up
dangerous air pollution. Web
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/19/eu-court-rules-uk-government-must-clean-up-dangerous-air-pollution
Policy Option. Simplifying & streamlining rights of way procedures: Impact Assessment (IA).
2013. Web https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/82506/prow-consult-ia-simplifying-20130729.pdf
