December 21, 2015
Scotland

Scottish Government challenging court’s decision over wind farm

STV | 21 December 2015 | stv.tv

The Scottish Government and energy firm SSE are challenging a court’s decision over a Highland wind farm.

The Court of Session ruled the government was wrong to approve the 67-turbine Stronelairg development near Fort Augustus earlier this month.

Lord Jones held that Scottish ministers reached their decision in breach of environmental regulations following a judicial review brought by the John Muir Trust.

SSE said the wind farm would have created enough electricity to power 114,000 homes and would have generated £30m for the local economy.

An SSE spokesman said: “We intend to appeal the ruling by the Court of Session reducing the consent decision for Stronelairg wind farm, and we welcome today’s decision by the Scottish Government to do the same.

“We believe the consent decision was lawful.

“Stronelairg is a carefully designed project [which] will not be seen from the Great Glens key tourist routes, and will be entirely invisible from Loch Ness.”

SSE originally wanted to build 83 turbines at the Garrogie Estate but that number was reduced to 67 after discussions with the Highland Council in 2013.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/21/scottish-government-challenging-courts-decision-over-wind-farm/