Wind Tower Vandalism - an attack on science
9 May 2017
On the 31st of March 2017 our data logger stopped sending data from our wind testing mast. This wasn't picked up until May 1st by our data analysts. On the 3rd of May we conducted a site visit and discovered that the cups of the anemometers (wind measuring instrumentation) had been shot at before the guy ropes holding the mast up were cut. The mast and instrumentation have been effectively destroyed. This is not only a loss of a valuable data collection point, it is also an attack on science. The Environment Court requested we provide local background Acoustic monitoring. We have installed Acoustic monitoring units around neighbouring properties, but the only way our expert can judge impact is to measure noise against wind speed and direction. We now face a fundraising task to reinstall equipment. This does not impact in any serious way on the Environment Court process but it is an attempt to destroy community wind and deny others the benefit of our work. It is sad and frustrating to have our careful and considered collection of information requested by the Court disabled by an extremist or two.
