February 24, 2012
Scotland

US tycoon Donald Trump warns Alex Salmond: I’ll see you in court over windfarms

by Charlie Gall, Daily Record, www.dailyrecord.co.uk 24 February 2012

Donald Trump has vowed to sue the Scottish Government if they allow offshore wind turbines near his golf course.

And aides to the big-haired billionaire have revealed he is giving cash and support to an anti-wind farm campaign group.

Trump is enraged at plans to build 11 large wind turbines in the sea near his £1billion golf resort on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

He has accused Alex Salmond of being “hell-bent on destroying Scotland’s coastline”.

And his right-hand man George Sorial confirmed yesterday that Trump will sue if government agency Marine Scotland give the go-ahead for the turbines near his course.

Speaking from Trump Tower in Manhattan, Sorial said: “We will immediately commence litigation. We are very willing and prepared to do so.”

Sorial added that plans to build a massive hotel atthe Menie Estate were “in jeopardy” because of the wind farm project.

He accused the Government of threatening a development he claimed was a “masterpiece”.

And he confirmed Trump’s alliance with the pressure group Communities Against Turbines Scotland.

Sorial said: “For two weeks, we’ve been in daily communication with CATS. We are providing a broad array of support, including financial.

“Personnel from our office are assisting them with marketing and public relations – and if necessary with litigation.”

Green campaigners from the charity WWF UK described Trump’s war on windfarms as “misguided” and “deeply depressing”.

And Niall Stuart, of green energy trade body Scottish Renewables, has accused the tycoon of trying to bully the Scottish Government.

He said: “Decisions over Scotland’s energy and economic policy are for the democratically-elected government, not billionaire American businessmen”.

Sorial called the bullying allegations “absurd”.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/24/us-tycoon-donald-trump-warns-alex-salmond-ill-see-you-in-court-over-windfarms/