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Wind Power News: U.K.
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Glyndebourne abandons show after wind turbine fails to keep lights on
“While in the windier winter months it generates an excess to our needs, daily supply does not meet demand at the height of summer.” Complete story »
Tweedsmuir: Scottish Borders Council objects to wind farm plan
Scottish Borders councillors in Monday, June 26, unanimously agreed to object to a new wind farm which would lead to turbines “towering over” villagers. Oliver Forest Wind Farm is earmarked for land north of Menzion Farm at Tweedsmuir. The application for the project, known as a Section 36 application, has been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit. The proposal submitted consists of seven turbines up to 200m to blade tip height. To maximise the use of green energy . . . Complete story »
Skye windfarm inquiry reveals almost ‘no long-term jobs’
“We found out that there’s only 1.4 jobs involved once the farm is finished construction.” An inquiry into an onshore windfarm on Skye revealed “no specific commitment to community benefit”, almost “no long-term jobs” and “a lack of oversight” from government, said a campaigner who attended the hearings. Over the past week, the Scottish Government’s reporter has held a local inquiry on Skye into an application for the extension of the Ben Aketil windfarm which would see twelve 120m turbines . . . Complete story »
Turbine whoppers
Good on Councillor Ruraidh Stewart and Skye residents protesting against the developers’ plans to “repower” Ben Aketil wind farm, near Dunvegan (your report, 23 June). The downright dishonesty in claiming larger turbines are more efficient is breathtaking, and shame on the remote Scottish Government for falling for the spin! Did our brick-sized mobile phones double or half in size as they became more efficient? The farcical industry claims that larger turbines are more “efficient” could not be further from the . . . Complete story »
Council advised to object to wind farm scheme
A council has been advised [by whom? —NWW] to object to a wind farm being proposed in its area due to its “significant adverse landscape and visual impacts”. Developers want to build seven turbines in the Oliver Forest scheme near to Tweedsmuir. A report to Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee says the “degree of demonstrable harm” outweighs its economic and environmental benefits. The final decision on whether the project can proceed will lie with the Scottish government. The site earmarked . . . Complete story »
‘We need a stronger voice’: 52 Highland community councils unite to demand a say in Scotland’s energy future
Community councils from across the vast Highland Council area came together in Beauly on Saturday 14 June to express frustration over the rapid rollout of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure and the exclusion of local voices in the planning and decision making process. The gathering involved 52 community councils representing over 72,000 Highland residents, and marked a significant escalation in the grassroots resistance to projects such as the Spittal-Beauly 400kV overhead line and associated substations, battery storage facilities & wind farms. . . . Complete story »
‘Skye is not for sale’: Scottish Highland residents stand strong as wind farm inquiry takes off
An inquiry into plans to double the size of turbines on Skye started this week. A councillor from the Isle of Skye who resigned from a council’s planning process over the way developments are handled has spoken out against wind farm plans at the centre of a public inquiry this week. Ruaridh Stewart joined members of the community pushing back against plans to repower Ben Aketil wind farm, near Dunvegan, at the hearing on Monday. The proposals involve reducing the . . . Complete story »
Shock as Scots farmer threatened with losing his land – for wind farm 300 miles away
A Scots farmer was left shocked after discovering that a multinational energy company could have ripped land away from him to help build a wind farm 300 miles away. Jack Milroy was approached repeatedly by Equinor who wanted to purchase some of his farm in Kirkcolm, near Stranraer, to create a special coastal habitat for sandwich terns. After he repeatedly rejected the company’s overtures, it instead went to the Scottish Government to ask whether it would support it in a . . . Complete story »
‘Mass wuther’ protest as giant wind farm threatens Brontë moors
Out on the wily, windy moors above Haworth in West Yorkshire, hundreds of Kate Bush enthusiasts are to gather – to protest against plans for England’s biggest wind farm. An annual event billed as “The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever” is taking place on Sunday, July 27, on Penistone Hill, above the village where Emily Brontë lived with her sisters, Charlotte and Anne, two centuries ago. Known as a “mass wuther”, it will feature more than 500 people dressed in red . . . Complete story »
53 community councils demand Scottish Highland energy projects pause
More than 50 community councils have come together to demand a pause on energy infrastructure projects across the Highlands. Councils from across the Highland region gathered both in person in Beauly and online on Saturday to discuss their concerns over the pace and the scale of projects such as windfarms, battery storage sites, and transmission lines. Representatives shared their widespread frustration at how applications are being handled by developers, the government, and national planners. Collectively, more than 72,000 residents from . . . Complete story »
