Wind Power News: U.K.
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Rhoscrowther windfarm permission denied for third time
Plans to build wind turbines near Valero Refinery have been turned down for the third time, following a public inquiry late last year. Rhoscrowther Windfarm Ltd (RWL) applied to construct five 100 metre high turbines on land owned by former Hundleton county councillor John Allen-Mirehouse. Planning inspector Kay Sheffield concluded that the development would have “a significant and adverse visual effect on the character and appearance of the landscape of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.” Her recommendation for refusal has . . . Complete story »
Berwickshire wind farm rejection overturned
An eight-turbine wind farm in the Scottish Borders has been approved on appeal. Councillors had rejected the project north of Howpark Farmhouse near Grantshouse claiming the area was already “saturated” with such schemes. However, developers appealed against that decision to the Scottish government. A reporter has now concluded that the project can proceed with a string of conditions attached. Complete story »
Study of wind turbine effects on seabirds ‘very optimistic interpretation’ of data, RSPB says
The Scottish division of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has hit out against a study published today on the risk to seabirds through collision with offshore wind turbines, calling the findings a “very optimistic interpretation of data”. The new collaborative report by the Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) claims that seabirds are at less risk than first thought and that the collision rate is “less than half of what would be expected”. Despite being a . . . Complete story »
Highland council to defend refusing planning to wind farm due to ‘visual impact’
Lawyers yesterday urged Highland Council to change its objections for its refusal of planning permission for a 19 turbine wind farm in Caithness. The move followed the removal of the RSPB charity’s own objections to the development. Now with the application due to be reviewed at an inquiry in Lybster, the council will base its decision solely on “visual impact grounds”. The committee previously the wind farm application for Golticlay at a hearing in September 2017. At the time it . . . Complete story »
Inch Cape decision has ‘no link’ to Nicola Sturgeon’s China visit
The decision to call in a planning application for a wind farm development in East Lothian has “no connection whatsoever” to the First Minister’s recent trip to China, MSPs have been told. The move will see ministers rather than East Lothian Council assess Inch Cape Offshore Limited’s (ICOL) application for planning permission on the site of the former Cockenzie power station. Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart said the proposed project is in an area covered by the national planning framework . . . Complete story »
Giant wind turbine near Pen-y-Fan pond sparks strong objection
An application to build a wind turbine more than 100m high near the Pen-y-Fan Country Park has been met with strong objection. Thirty-five letters against the proposal to build the turbine, with a maximum tip height of 113m, at the Durisol UK facility on the Pen-y-fan industrial estate were received by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning authority. Rhianon Passmore, the Islwyn AM, also submitted an objection letter and a petition with 94 signatures outlined residents’ concerns to the plans from . . . Complete story »
Windfarm plans ‘grounded’
Aviation chiefs have grounded plans for a new windfarm close to Glasgow over safety fears. Proposals to build six turbines 76.5m in height in Newton Mearns were presented to East Renfrewshire Council’s planning committee last week. But councillors rejected the plans after National Air Traffic Service (NATS) bosses raised concerns about losing track of planes. NATS claim the turbines could interfere with their radars in Glasgow and Cumbernauld, with the potential for air traffic controllers to mistake them for planes. . . . Complete story »
Speyside communities slam wind farm developer for attempting to short change them by £16million
Speyside communities have claimed they are being shortchanged by £16million by an energy giant. Villages across the areas stand to benefit from the huge Dorenell Wind Farm, which is being built on the Glenfiddich Estate near Dufftown. However, despite Scottish Government guidance saying that communities should get annual payments £5,000 per MW of energy generated, developers EDF Energy have only offered £2,000. They have argued that since the guidance was published after the project was approved, they will honour the . . . Complete story »
Nicola Sturgeon accused of ‘trampling on local democracy’ over controversial Chinese wind farm plan
Nicola Sturgeon was accused of “trampling over local democracy” yesterday after intervening in a controversial planning application backed by the Chinese government. The Scottish Government “called in” plans related to the Inch Cape Offshore (ICO) wind farm on Monday, the same day the First Minister began a trade visit to China. It will now be decided by SNP ministers instead of local councillors in East Lothian. But opposition parties branded the intervention “a disgrace” as ICO are owned by Red . . . Complete story »
Public meeting discusses next steps for Sandend wind farm
A public meeting was held last night to discuss a community’s next steps in an attempt to block a windfarm development. Campaigners from Sandend have been fighting since January to prevent offshore infrastructure for a massive green energy scheme landing on their pristine sands. The Moray West Offshore Windfarm aims to deploy 90 turbines off the coast of the Moray Firth which could provide power for 900,000 homes. But one of the possible routes for cables to connect the scheme . . . Complete story »
