September 29, 2012
Scotland

‘Councils should spark windfarm public inquiry’

By David Ewen | Evening Express | 28 September 2012

The Trump Organisation has called on councils to “trigger” a public inquiry into plans for an offshore windfarm.

And it has written to all 111 members on Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils claiming the scheme is doomed to fail because of the need for subsidies.

Councillors were e-mailed a copy of a New York Times article that reported concerns about the industry “withering” in the US.

International development director George Sorial said: “It concludes that without costly tax subsidies, the wind business ‘falls off a cliff’.

“Why would you allow Scotland to make the same mistake and base its entire future on such a false and fragile economy?”

In its latest formal objection to the European Wind Offshore Deployment Centre – proposed between Blackdog and Balmedie – the Trump Organisation said it was “of the view that both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council should object to the application and trigger a public inquiry”.

It has halted plans for a £750 million resort over claims the 11-turbine test centre will blight views from its recently opened golf course.

The EOWDC developers claim the windfarm will have “minimal impact” on the course, and cited it as key project in establishing Aberdeen as a world energy capital.

Iain Todd, project spokesman for the EOWDC, said: “The overwhelming support we have received for the EOWDC, which is recognised as a crucial stepping stone to accelerating the global offshore wind industry, underpins the magnitude of the project.

“It is also pivotal to helping Aberdeen City and Shire diversify its energy-based economy to ensure its long-term prosperity.

If the EOWDC goes ahead, the region will benefit from a more than £230million investment which we believe is an opportunity that should not be missed.”

The Scottish Government will rule on the plans before the end of the year.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/29/councils-should-spark-windfarm-public-inquiry/