October 20, 2010
Scotland

Stornoway Wind Farm consultation begins

Stornoway Gazette, www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/ 19 October 2010

Lewis Windpower have started their consultation process concerning their proposals for a £225 million 50 turbine windfarm on the publicly-owned 64,000 acre on the Stornoway Trust Estate.

A previous application for a £500 million scheme for 176 turbines spread over three estates was turned down by the Scottisdh Government in 2008.

The proposed turbines would have a maximum generating capacity of 150MW. The wind farm layout has now yet been finalised and is the subject of further environmental survey work and consultation with stakeholders and local residents. The proposed site lies outwith the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area (SPA), the Lewis Peatlands Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and RAMSAR site.

In a letter sent out to all households in the Trust area and the remainder of Lewis, Ronald D Pedie, the Project Director for Lewis Wind Power, says that they believe that this development in partnership with the Stornoway Trust and in conjunction with renewable energy developers AMEC and EDF, will bring much needed investment into the Stornoway Trust Estate and the Isle of Lewis.

He point out in his letter: ‘Our plans are at a very early stage which means that we are keen to hear your views and those of the wider community as these will be important in the design of the wind farm layout and other key details, with the aim of maximising benefits to the local community.’He says that since the land was identified by consultants Halcrow, they have been undertaking a range of bird and habitat surveys in order to identify suitable

locations for the wind turbines and other development infrastructure. They have now submitted their Environmental Impact Assessment Request for Scoping

Opinion to the Scottish Government for their consideration.

The letter is the start of their consultation process on the proposed wind farm and they hope to be making further announcements in the coming weeks about wider community consultations and workshops.

If the 150 MW scheme went ahead it would mean a rental for the landowners and estate crofters of over £1 million a year with a community fund benefitting by £600,000 a year. There is also provision for the community to purchase 20 per cent of the turbines, which would equate to close to £3 million per annum.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/10/20/stornoway-wind-farm-consultation-begins/