While inequality is top of the agenda, thanks to French economist Thomas Piketty, where better to turn than to the pages of Tatler? This month’s magazine has a a guide to the poshest wind farms in Britain. Among those fingered for capitalising on the “energy gold rush” are “three dukes, four earls and two baronets”. Leading the race is father-in-law to the PM Sir Reginald Sheffield.
With the help of Dr John Constable, director of policy and research at the Renewable Energy Foundation, Tatler estimates that Sir Reggie’s Bagmoor Wind Farm, on his 3,000-acre Normanby Hall estate in Lincolnshire, makes £2 million a year from electricity. And add to that subsidies to the tune of £1.86 million from British and European public purses.
That makes Sir James Dyson’s plans to rake in a mere £500,000 with 25 turbines on his Nocton estate, also in Lincolnshire, look small beer. Sir Reggie has declined to discuss the income with Tatler.
The society magazine points out that aristocrats “reaping a rich harvest from the breeze” isn’t going down well with those not blessed with such large estates. Earl Spencer, for instance, has been keeping a wide berth from his Warwickshire acreage after plans to build a wind farm met with local fury.
Thoughtfully, Tatler has a guide to put the wind-farm windfalls in perspective. One turbine generating £40,000 a year will buy you four facelifts with Rajiv; two buys a Himalayan-diamond-studded Birkin bag; and 20 can build a roof for a medium-sized castle.
