Following the completion of Bears Down Wind Farm in July 2001, the project was officially opened by local school children on 20th September 2001. The children were selected by Community Energy Plus as a result of the exceptional work they had done as part of the schools energy efficiency programme. The pupils produced a variety of work ranging from renewable energy gardens, rap music, pictures and videos. It was a difficult task but Community Energy Plus selected 2 individual pupils and 2 schools who produced some of the very best work, to be guests of honour at Bears Down Wind Farm and to have the turbines named after them.

At the inauguration ceremony the guests of honour pressed a button to start the last of the 16 turbines and declare Cornwall's most powerful wind farm officially open.

Four of the turbines at Bears Down now display brass plaques in recognition of the outstanding work produced by the winning pupils and schools. The plaques are dedicate to:

1. Alice Tarby from Padstow School
2. Bridget Hurley from Treviglas Community College
3. St Columb Minor School, represented on the day by Ross Henwood, Samantha Holmes, Jacqualine Oddy and Jed Phillips
4. Tretherras Technology College, represented on the day by Daniel Cascarina, Rebecca Gould, Ross King and Tom Laud representing Newquay

The inauguration was followed by a public open day on Saturday 22nd September 2001 and welcomed over 450 members of the public.

Visitors were invited to take a closer look at the wind farm, view a series of exhibitions, and step inside one of the turbine towers. Members of staff were also on hand to answer questions. Many of the visitors took the time to complete a comments form about the wind farm.

The results returned were extremely positive with 96% of visitors completing the forms stating their approval of the wind farm. In addition, 57% of those who commented described the turbines as graceful, while a further 41% thought their appearance was acceptable. Only 3 people thought they were ugly, although at the same time they did not express disapproval of the wind farm overall.

Exhibitors at the open day included the Camel Area Friends of the Earth Group, local contractors E Thomas Civil Engineering (Mowlems Plc) and Bonus Energy A/S. Also present were Community Energy Plus of Falmouth who were on hand to answer questions about energy efficiency and to distribute free low energy light bulbs and organic chocolate bars to everyone who successfully completed an energy efficiency questionnaire.

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