LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Wildlife concerns raised over Black Isle windfarm proposals 

Credit:  By Jamie McKenzie | The Press and Journal | 13 January 2015 | www.pressandjournal.co.uk ~~

A leading ornithologist has raised wildlife concerns about plans for a community scale windfarm on the Black Isle.

The 6.9MW capacity scheme, backed by Black Isle Community Energy (BICE), proposes three 377ft high towers in Millbuie Forest near Mount Eagle.

However Black Isle-based Brian Etheridge, who has been monitoring red kites and ospreys in the forest for 20 years, is concerned that the scheme could impact on nearby red kite, osprey and capercaillie populations.

The forest also includes the endangered Scottish wildcat, of which there are estimated to be less than 300 left, pine marten and red squirrel.

The scheme will go to a public ballot to be decided on March 12 and papers will be sent out to residents in mid February.

A yes vote in the ballot won’t necessarily lead to turbines being erected because the planning application may be refused.

Local campaign group No Black Isle Windfarm recently criticised BICE for using overestimated windspeeds in their financial projections for the scheme. BICE claims the windfarm will bring £500,000 per year to the community.

Mr Etheridge said: “The two chosen locations for the turbines are in close proximity to known traditional nesting sites and pose a direct risk to the movement of adult birds of prey of conservation value as well as the relic population of Capercaillie.

“The turbines will destroy the whole fabric of the forest.”

Martin Sherring of BICE said: “The concensus seems to be there is a fair amount of uncertainty about the impact of turbines on these species and that the best thing is to get as much survey work done as possible and produce an environmental impact assessment that will clarify the likely impact.

“It is a bit premature really to categorically say that this is a problem.”

David Fraser, member of No Black Isle Windfarm, said: “BICE are trying to scare people into voting yes by saying that a commercial developer will step in if we don’t. But we believe the opposite is true. This is the thin end of a wedge and only a no vote can deter commercial developers. The postal ballot is the critical point – if there is a yes vote there will be no going back to the Black Isle as we know it. It will be an open door to development.”

Source:  By Jamie McKenzie | The Press and Journal | 13 January 2015 | www.pressandjournal.co.uk

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon