Westmill Wind Farm was the vision and investment by the land owner and farmer Adam Twine. Adam was inspired by a trip to Denmark where 20% of the country’s renewable energy generators are owned by communities. The site was negotiated through the planning process by Adam with the whole process taking 13 years. During the process Adam joined forces with Energy4All who helped in the latter stages of the planning process. Adam created a local support group WOW (Wind Over Westmill). Adam and the support group worked hard to provide information, answer questions and counter some of the widespread misinformation about the project (including exhibitions in nearby towns and villages, organising public meetings, participating in debates, stalls at a dozen local shows and fetes, giving talks to local groups and open days on site
In 2004 Energy4All (created by Baywind Energy Co-op) formed Westmill Wind Farm Co-op and in 2005 produced a public offer document and raised £4.6m from almost 2,400 members to build the site. After lengthy negotiations with the turbine manufacturer and having to deal with an increase in turbine costs, construction began in July 2007 and the turbines began generating electricity in February 2008.
Without the dedication of Adam, WOW and the members, Westmill Wind Farm would not have succeeded.
