A GREEN energy scheme planned for Killington Reservoir near Kendal will use water and wind power to generate electricity for 2,300 homes.

British Waterways want to site up to two 80-metre turbines and a small-scale hydro scheme at the lake near junction 37 of the M6.

The proposal is part of a national plan by the public company to build 50 turbines and associated hydro schemes on land it owns over the next five years.

Revenue from the scheme would be reinvested in the UK’s 200-year-old network of canals and waterways, with a separate annual fund of £12,000 distributed to a committee of local representatives to spend on community schemes.

Partnerships for Renewables - a Carbon Trust majority owned company working alongside British Waterways - are confident they can submit a planning application for Killington by the end of 2010.

Jerry Sturman, Regional Manager for Partnerships for Renewables, said early environmental assessments “proved positive” and was keen to involve public views at every stage of the process. “The aim of this early announcement is to fully involve the community from the outset to ensure that any development incorporates local feedback,” he said.

With a feasibility study already underway at Killington, the next stage will be a scoping report, published at the end of the year including a range of factors including archaeology, ecology, wildlife, noise and radar interference.

Each turbine will be 80 metres tall with a 45-metre blade span, producing 11 GWh of green energy per annum, saving approximately 4,700 co2 emissions each year.

One will be sited north of the lake, the other on the south. Capacity of the hydroelectric scheme has not been decided, but the scheme is likely to be installed within Killington’s dam.

Partnerships for Renewables are contacting neighbours of Killington likely to be affected by the scheme, as well as local parish councils and environmental organisations with the view to setting up public exhibitions of the plans when they are finalised.

Tom Brinicombe of Partnerships for Renewables said the development was unlikely to affect sailing on the lake.

“It is still very early days. We want to have a dialogue with everyone. If people feel concerned they should contact us and let us know their views.”

Information on the project can be found at www.pfr.co.uk/killington.

Residents concerned with the proposal can email pfr@communityrelations.couk or call the community helpline on 0800 731 7395.