February 18, 2013
Scotland

Windfarm critics draw up hit-list of firms

Press and Journal | 18th February 2013 |

Anti-windfarm campaigners have called for a boycott of businesses which support turbine schemes.

They have drawn up a “blacklist” which includes food giant Mackies of Scotland, farming consultants – and even a north-east vet.

Communities Against Wind Turbines in Aberdeenshire (Cawt) has produced a newsletter naming firms it claims have “thrown their support behind wind turbines”.

And it has told its members: “If you feel strongly, you may wish to contact some of these businesses to protest – and withdraw your business.”

Its “hit list” includes Athena Commercial Solutions Ltd, which is based in London but has an office at Fraserburgh, Inverurie Farm Consultancy Ltd and Aberdeen-based Scotfarms Ltd.

The Donview Veterinary Centre at Inverurie is also named.
No one at the practise wanted to comment, but it is understood it was included on the list because one of its directors once voiced support for a neighbour’s turbine project.

A prominent businessman and councillor said they were concerned about Cawt’s tactics.

Maitland Mackie, the managing director of Mackies of Scotland, claimed the group was “innocent of the realities” of renewable energy.

“While everyone is entitled to their opinion it is important that people analyse the subject they are protesting against”, he said.

“Clearly these people haven’t a clue about the importance of wind turbines if they choose to go down the route of destroying businesses who are part of the renewable energy revolution.

“In 20 to 30 years the bulk, if not all, of our energy will come from renewables, which are just as cheap as building new generating facilities which require the use of carbon capture.”

East Garioch Green councillor Martin Ford said: “People should not be ashamed of using or supporting renewables. I certainly am not.”

But Cawt says it is simply giving the public the facts to make an informed decision.

A spokeswoman for the group said: “This is not the first set of firms we have named and shamed in our newsletter.
“Our intention is not to damage a business. We are simply passing on information which is already in the public domain and allowing people to make up their own minds.

“There is nothing to stop someone who supports wind turbines reading the information we have provided and choosing to support a business”.

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Correction

A report on Monday incorrectly referred to the windfarm pressure group Cawt as Communities Against Wind Turbines in Aberdeenshire. The group’s name is in fact Concerned About Wind Turbines.

The Press and Journal, 21 February 2013

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/18/windfarm-critics-draw-up-hit-list-of-firms/