London Olympics to run on wind

LONDON—The company building the 2012 London Olympic Games site plans to use a wind turbine to power about 1200 homes for a year.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said that the 120m turbine with a lifespan of about 20 years will power local amenities such as street lightning and housing in East London after 2012.
The turbine which will cost about two million pounds and has 40 metres blades, will be built at Eton Manor to the north of Olympic Park, in 2010.
According to media reports, a private company will build the turbine and supply power to the Olympic site at a reduced rate. The turbine will also power construction machinery and lights because the Games organisors want the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be Environmentally friendly.
The chief executive,ODA, David Higgins has been quoted as saying: " The wind turbine on the Olympic Park will be a symbol of the sustainability principles behind the Games."
The ODA is also considering solar power, ground water cooling, hydro and tidal power and biomass fuel.
Environmental charities have welcomed the announcement. Robert Napier,chief executive of WWF which works with ODA said: " WWF-UK and BioRegional (the environment charity) support the proposed urban wind turbine as part of London’s Olympic energy plan."—Agencies