May 5, 2020
Scotland

Windfarm plans for New Cumnock lodged

By Andy Hamilton, Reporter | Cumnock Chronicle | www.cumnockchronicle.com

Plans for a new windfarm near New Cumnock have now been submitted to council chiefs.

The Greenburn windfarm would comprises 16 turbines, with a maximum height of 149.9m with a capacity of 67.2MW.

The site would be located approximately 4.5km from New Cumnock adjacent to the former Greenburn opencast coal mine in an area which takes in some of the land earmarked for the East Ayrshire Coalfield Communities Landscape Project.

The plans, which would co-locate battery storage with the wind farm to maximise grid connection use, were previously subject to an 18-month long consultation.

Developers REG Greenburn Limited are also offering to set up a community benefit fund, that will be developed and shaped by residents.

Melvyn McKeown, Project Manager for REG Greenburn Limited said, “We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time over the past 18 months to respond to our consultation and to give us their views. This has been invaluable in helping us prepare our final proposals.

“The Greenburn Wind Farm project will deliver clean energy and help Scotland to achieve its ambitious net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2045.

“Greenburn Wind Farm will create direct and indirect economic benefits including the potential for local jobs during the construction period and a range of contracts that local firms will be encouraged to bid for.

“We will continue to engage with the all stakeholders through to a determination of the application. If anyone has any questions about our proposals or would like to discuss anything, please do get in touch by email or phone.”

The Section 36 application has been lodged following an 18-month long public consultation process that included a series of exhibitions in Cumnock, New Cumnock, Auchinleck and Ochiltree and meetings with community councils, community development trusts, local businesses and residents as well as all statutory bodies including Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Forestry.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/05/05/windfarm-plans-for-new-cumnock-lodged/