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

‘Deadliest’ wind farms given green light after court fight 

Credit:  www.heraldscotland.com ~~

Conservationists have warned thousands of Scotland’s seabirds will be put under threat after ministers won a court battle to give the go-ahead for four massive offshore windfarms.

The RSPB said it was “bitterly disappointed” over the decision from the Inner House of the Court of Session, with the charity having won an earlier appeal against the projects.

The most advanced of the schemes is the £2 billion 450MW Neart Na Gaoithe wind farm in the Firth of Forth estuary, which already holds a power generation contract.

The others given the green flag are the 784MW Inch Cape turbines 15 km off the Angus coastline, and two Seagreen arrays near the Isle of May.

The RSPB had objected to the plans on environmental grounds, and believe they could have a devastating impact on vulnerable wildlife.

Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland said the charity backed renewable power, but not at any cost.

He said: “Combined, these huge projects threaten to kill thousands of Scotland’s internationally protected seabirds every year, including thousands of puffins, gannets and kittiwakes.

“These could be amongst the most deadly windfarms for birds anywhere in the world.

“It was with great reluctance and as a last resort, but in these circumstances, it was clear that RSPB Scotland had to make a stand. Given the huge threat to Scotland’s wildlife from these projects, we do not regret our actions so far.”

Mainstream Renewable Power, the firm behind the Neart Na Gaoithe plan, intends to build 64 turbines rising 100 metres from the sea bed.

The firm says that more than £540 million will be invested in Scotland during the construction phase, with a further £610m during the lifetime of the windfarm.

More than 500 jobs will be created during construction, with 100 permanent posts once the project is complete.

David Sweenie, Mainstream’s Offshore Manager for Scotland, insisted the firm would work closely to minimise the impact on the environment. He said: “This £2bn project is capable of supplying all the homes in a city the size of Edinburgh with clean energy.

“It will create over 500 jobs during construction and over 100 permanent jobs once operational.

“As a nationally significant infrastructure project, Neart na Gaoithe will help Scotland and the UK meet their climate and energy goals, and develop a world-leading offshore wind sector.”

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “The Scottish Government remains strongly committed to the development of offshore wind energy.

“Clearly, protecting Scotland’s marine environment is of paramount importance and at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach to offshore renewable energy applications, and we are keen to work constructively with both the RSPB and renewable energy developers to ensure the sector has a bright future in Scotland.”

Source:  www.heraldscotland.com

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