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.
Scottish Land Court to settle windfarm dispute
A storm is brewing in the Western Isles as a war over the rights to a lucrative windfarm begins at the Scottish Land Court tomorrow. Four island crofting townships will take on community landowner Stornoway Trust and Lewis Wind Power. The trust has agreed a deal with Lewis Wind Power, owned by energy giant EDF Renewables and engineering firm Amec-Foster-Wheeler, which could see a 36-turbine windfarm capable of generating £30million a year being built. Lewis Wind Power has made a . . .
Court to decide if €280m North-South power line will go ahead
The High Court is set to rule on Tuesday on a challenge to a €280 million high-capacity power line connecting the Republic and the North. Last month locals challenged An Bord Pleanála’s decision allowing State company Eirgrid build 300 pylons and a high-power electricity line between Meath and Monaghan. The High Court is expected to rule on the case on Tuesday, several weeks before the September-October date that it originally signalled for its verdict. A ruling in favour of An . . .
Push for wind projects will cost Scottish consumers many billions
The request by your readers for Holyrood to issue hard facts on wind farms in Scotland (Letters, August 18) will never be met as there is a wall of silence on this topic. However, until the Growth Commission report is issued, here are a few facts that may assist your readers to understand the economics of renewable energy. The first is that electricity is three times more expensive than gas, hence replacing domestic gas will see a vast increase in . . .
David and Goliath battle over island windfarm
A leading green energy entrepreneur has thrown his support behind an island community as they wage a David and Goliath style battle against a major wind farm developer. Steve McDonald, whose renewables projects include The UK’s biggest onshore wind farm project at Whitelee near Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire, said he believes most of the revenue from a proposed green energy development on common grazings around Stornoway would flow straight into foreign pockets if island crofters lost their bid to run . . .
Time we had hard facts on claims by wind farm developers
The wailing has begun regarding RSPB continuing with its battle to stop three huge offshore wind farms because of concerns the sea bird populations could be decimated (“RSPB in Supreme Court move in bid to halt wind farm development”, The Herald, August 16). The suggestion that the wind farms are “environmentally important” is laughable, and as usual we also have wild unsubstantiated claims about jobs created, homes powered, money into the economy and CO2 displaced. Is anyone aware of a . . .
Bid to keep Kirkby Moor wind turbines working till 2027
A bid to keep the turbines turning at Kirkby Moor Wind Farm for eight extra years is being made. The collection of 12 three-bladed 400kW turbines, sited on heather moorland at Kirkby Moor and Lowick High Commons, was one of the UK’s first and began generating electricity back in August 1993. The wind farm 2km south-east of Grizebeck is due to reach the end of its 25-year permitted life in August 2018. But London-based Zephyr Investments is seeking consent from . . .
Carsphairn wind turbine proposal rejected
Councillors have rejected plans for a wind farm which the Mountaineering Council of Scotland said would form a “ring of steel” around a Galloway hill. They deferred a decision last month on Burcote Wind’s 10-turbine Longburn project near Carsphairn. The company had said the scheme would put about £2.5m into a community benefit fund over its operational life. However, planning officials had advised refusal due to the cumulative impact in the area. Dumfries and Galloway Council had been scheduled to . . .
Sea bird colonies threat fear prompts conservation charity to take fight over Scots wind farms to Supreme Court
A conservation charity has applied for permission to go to the highest appeal court in the land to stop a major wind farm development in Scotland which it fears will threaten sea bird colonies. RSPB Scotland are seeking a Supreme Court appeal of the decision by the Scottish Government to allow four major wind farms in the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay in 2014. The charity initially won a court victory but it was later overturned, clearing . . .
Giant wind turbines are causing health problems, claim villagers
A west coast community is in dispute with a major power company over giant wind turbines that are allegedly causing health problems. Residents of Fairlie, near Largs, claim that turbines at the UK’s only offshore wind turbine test site have caused dizziness, sickness, headaches and sleep disturbance. But the local health authority said it is “unlikely” that the wind turbines are the cause of symptoms experienced by individuals. The National Offshore Wind Turbine Test Facility is run by Scottish Southern . . .
Major wind farm development ‘would hit seabird colonies’
The RSPB has applied to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal against a major wind farm development which it believes would hit seabird colonies. The Scottish Government gave consent to four major wind farms in the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay in 2014, but the RSPB launched a judicial review. The charity initially won a court victory but it was later overturned, clearing the development and prompting the RSPB to seek a further appeal. Scotland’s Court . . .
