July 23, 2012
Scotland

More wind turbines on horizon?

Forfar Dispatch | www.forfardispatch.co.uk 22 July 2012

The Forfar area could be set for another windfarm as a proposal is submitted to site one within the Carse Gray Estate.

The St Mary’s Well Windfarm could include up to five turbines with tip heights of 120 metres. They would supply up to 6,300 homes with a total installed capacity of 12MW.

Element Power, the team behind the development, are currently in the process of preparing their planning application to be submitted to Angus Council later in the year.

This follows the news that West Coast Energy and Green Cat Energy have submitted their plans to the local authority for Dodd Hill and Govals Farm respectively.

Element Power states: “The development site on the Carse Gray Estate consists of rough grassland and upland vegetation.

“When the wind farm is operational the local farmer will be able to continue to graze his livestock right up to the base of the turbines.

“The site has an excellent wind resource, is close to the electricity grid and is away from key constraints.

“The project would not only make a significant contribution towards creating a safe and secure electricity supply, it will also generate much needed income for this important local estate, helping to protect its future and the livelihoods of those living and working at Carse Gray.”

A community liaison group has now been established in order to give locals and the energy company a forum in which to discuss the proposals and exchange information.

The Aberlemno, Lunanhead, Kirriemuir Landward East and Forfar community councils are all involved as are the Forfar Area Partnership and the Forfar Business Initiative are all involved in the group.

It is anticipated that they will meet regularly with the developers in order to receive progress reports and updates on the project. The community bodies will also be able to share any comments and concerns raised by members of the public regarding the windfarm development.

Element Power are also looking at what benefits to the community they could bring with their development. They said: “We will pay an agreed community benefit each year the windfarm is operational.

“Depending on the final size of the project, this could result in a considerable investment of more than £50,000 each year, amounting to more than £1 million during the lifetime of the wind farm, to fund projects that would directly benefit local communities.”

They added: “We will encourage local construction, operation and maintenance work contractors to bid for construction contracts associated with the St Mary’s Well Wind Farm.”

A number of exhibitions will be held throughout the local area detailing the plans: Memus and the Glens Community Hall, Friday, July 10 from 4pm to 8pm; St Margaret’s Hall, Lunanhead, Saturday, July 21 from 9am to 12 noon and on the same day in the Reid Hall, Forfar from 1pm to 3pm.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/23/more-wind-turbines-on-horizon/