| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
North’s turbine numbers spinning ‘out of control’
Credit: By Calum Ross | The Press and Journal | 28 April 2015 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
The Highlands and islands could soon be home to the same number of wind turbines as in the whole of England, it has emerged.
Official figures show that there are 443 operational turbines in the region, about 38% of the 1,164 that are up and running in England.
However, the addition of all the turbine schemes that are in the planning process, approved or under construction would take the north figure to 1,157.
That is just seven short of the total number south of the border, although the figure for England is expected to rise to 1,817 in coming years.
Throughout Scotland, there are 2,622 of the structures, more than double the number in England.
However, the figures for Scotland could double again, as another 2,669 are in planning, are consented or under construction.
Campaigner Linda Holt, of Scotland Against Spin, said: “Windfarm development in Scotland is out of control.
“The last thing Scottish ministers want to know is how many turbines have been imposed on the country. If they did, they would have to tell the Scottish people and couldn’t blame Westminster as planning is devolved.”
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative energy spokesman, said: “Wind energy has a part to play in Scotland’s power mix, but the SNP’s single-minded obsession with onshore wind is blanketing our countryside with turbines producing inefficient, intermittent and expensive energy.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Surveys show there is strong public support for onshore wind and the Scottish Government is ambitious for Scotland’s tremendous green energy potential and its ability to transform communities.”
Joss Blamire, senior policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “A recent YouGov poll found that seven in 10 Scottish adults said they supported the continued development of wind power as part of our energy mix.
“One fifth of Scotland is already off limits to windfarms, due to bans on development in national parks and National Scenic Areas. Outside of these areas planning applications go through a very rigorous assessment, including judgment of potential cumulative impacts of multiple schemes.”
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 |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=71434 ]
