Wind Power News: Scotland
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.
School wind turbines shut down over safety fears
Wind turbines have been turned off at 16 schools in the Highlands amid fears they may be sited dangerously close to pupils. Barriers could be placed around the installations after a full safety assessment is carried out by experts. The move follows growing public concern about accidents involving the power generators, with the dramatic image of one on fire during December’s storms still fresh. In other cases, turbine blades have flown off during high winds. Highland Council temporarily suspended the . . .
CATS slams latest wind industry propaganda
Scottish pressure group Communities Against Turbines Scotland has dismissed a DECC report claiming that there is a strong economic case for increased onshore wind development as the desperate propaganda of an industry in crisis. It says turbines destroy jobs, discourage investment and depress property values, while subsiding wind energy inflates electricity costs and damages business and jobs across the UK. Studies by the EU and World Bank show that the net effect of ‘green’ job creation is a significant loss . . .
Lairg wind farm would affect wild land – SNH
A proposed 22-turbine windfarm at Sallachy, north of Lairg, would result in the loss of a large area of wild land, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has advised. In objecting to the proposals, SNH has also highlighted the adverse effect the development would have on the Assynt and Coigach National Scenic Area (NSA), and the potential impacts on a range of other important sites for wild birds and habitats. Confirming the organisation’s objection, SNH’s director of operations, Andrew Bachell, said: “We . . .
March of the giants
Giant wind turbines 260ft high must be built to realise Alex Salmond’s dream of a renewables revolution, it has been claimed. MEG Renewables, a major company in the wind energy market, said the SNP’S radical green targets can only be met if planning rules are relaxed to allow massive new turbines. The new giants would be taller than the Scott Monument, which at 200ft dominates Edinburgh’s Princes Street. MEG said council planners were reluctant to approve medium–sized developments, where the . . .
Donald Trump gives evidence over wind farm proposals
Billionaire American tycoon Donald Trump brought Hollywood to Holyrood this month when he appeared in front of a Scottish parliamentary committee. Mr Trump, who has faced criticism from environmental groups for his controversial golf course development in Aberdeenshire, was called to give evidence to the Scottish parliament’s economy, energy and tourism committee. The committee of MSPs had invited Mr Trump to give his views as part of an inquiry into renewable energy after his outspoken criticism of the Scottish Government’s . . .
Massive penalty to export Hebridean electricity
It will still cost energy companies a huge amount extra to export green electricity from the Western Isles, despite a reform of the national grid charges. Energy regulator Ofgem insists that the controversial location charging scheme which financially penalises generators sited further away from the end user will remain albeit in an “improved” form. It means energy firms which create electricity from island wind or marine generators will have to fork out massively more to reach the mainland markets. Windfarms . . .
SNP green energy targets ‘need taller wind farms’
The SNP’s radical green energy targets can only be met if planning rules are loosened to allow wind farms that are 60 per cent taller, a major renewable power company has warned MSPs. MEG Renewables said council planners are currently reluctant to approve medium-sized developments where the turbines are more than 50m (164ft) high because they are “well outside of their comfort zone”. In a submission to a major Holyrood inquiry, Neil McGeoch, the company’s managing director, said this limit . . .
Wind turbines at Highland schools switched off amid safety fears for kids
Wind turbines beside Highland schools – including Holm primary and Culloden Academy – are being switched off today amid safety fears about the possible threat to children. The switch off comes after a turbine collapsed forcing the closure of one Highland School and concerns were voiced about the lack of fencing around the turbines to protect the kids in event of a malfunction. Sixteen machines in schools across the region including Inverness, Ross-shire, Caithness and Sutherland will now stop rotating. . . .
Gleneagles joins turbines critics
One of Scotland’s top golf venues has warned that Scottish tourism is under threat from the huge number of windfarms being built across the country. Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire his joined American tycoon Donald Trump in criticising the rate that green energy schemes are being approved. With the number of turbine schemes expected to treble over the next few years – the hotel fears for the “unspoilt landscape” of Scotland. In a submission to MSPs, hotel chiefs said: “The hotel’s . . .
Anti-windfarm demonstration
On April 26, you published a piece describing the protest at the Scottish Parliament the previous day. Along with around 200-300 antiwindfarm protesters from all parts of Scotland, I took part in the event which was organised and stewarded by Communities Against Turbines Scotland (Cats). At no time during the march or demonstration did any pro-wind group participate until a small group of around 20, mostly teenagers, approached, shepherded by police to keep them apart from the rest of us. . . .
