AROUND 100 wind turbines will need to be built in Devon if the county is to meet its renewable energy targets by the year 2010. That is the forecast made by the company behind an application to site three turbines on farm land to the west of the A386 at Bowerland near Okehampton. But West Coast Energy Ltd have dismissed fears, if their application is successful, any further turbines are planned for the site. Steve Salt, project manager, said: ?I can quite categorically say if permission were to be granted, there won?t be any further applications on this site.? He said technological assessment carried out at the site had found the three turbine complex to be the optimum model at the location. West Coast Energy held a public information meeting at Sourton Parish Hall on Wednesday, April 13 to display plans for the £3-million proposal and answer questions from local residents. On display were images of the predicted visual impact of the three 81 metres-high turbines from Yes Tor, Meldon Viaduct and other surrounding landmarks. The exhibition was visited by more than 100 people. ?We are pleased that people have come along. We hope to continue that local dialogue,? Mr Salt said. Mr Salt acknowledged the main issue of concern raised by visitors to the exhibition was the application?s proximity to the national park. Mr Salt said wind turbines would have to go somewhere in Devon if the county was to meet its target for energy from renewable within the next five years. He added: ?About 100 turbines will be needed to meet the county council?s policy by 2010. Each application has to be viewed on its own merits. The planning system will decide the level of renewable energy generation in this area.? Jonathan Cardale, chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, said it had been about time the public were given a chance to have a closer look at the Yelland Farm application. ?I am surprised they have not done this earlier,? he said. Mr Cardale said the company behind a proposed wind farm in the Den Brook Valley between North Tawton and Bow had held a public meeting before not after, a planning application was submitted. Mr Cardale said he feared the application could ?destroy the golden goose? of tourism on Dartmoor. He said: ?Our main worry is that this would set a dangerous precedent, it?s a foot in the door. It?s a test case for how much people value the National Park and what it stands for?. Dartmoor National Park member and Okehampton resident John Elson attended the exhibition to ?get the facts? on the application. He said his own personal position was that he was ?not against wind turbines in principle?, but he had ?not seen anything to convince me that it is good for the National Park?.