MPs warn Sturgeon to heed wind farm objections

AN SNP-led committee of MPs will today warn Nicola Sturgeon and her ministers to listen to growing concerns about the relentless march of wind farms through Scotland’s countryside.

The Scottish affairs committee, chaired by Nationalist MP Pete Wishart, will demand that ‘objections are properly heard and considered at the appropriate level within the planning system’.

The Westminster group will also admit that Britain’s drive for more green energy increases the risk of power outages.

‘There is a lot more to be done to ensure that decarbonising Great Britain’s electricity generation mix does not jeopardise security of supply,’ the MPs will warn – but they will go on to claim that there ‘is no reason that this cannot be achieved’.

The group also wants the UK Government to clarify its future support for renewables.

The Conservatives promised in their manifesto to stop any new public subsidy for onshore wind farms, but Scottish Renewables has said that the early closure of the ‘Renewables Obligation’ to such projects could cost Scotland

‘Serious concerns of many residents’

up to £3billion in lost investment and put 5,400 jobs at risk.

Scotland has one of the highest densities of wind farms in the world, encouraged by the SNP Government, which aims to generate all the nation’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

The committee report urges Holyrood to ensure ‘people’s objections are properly heard’ and states: ‘We note the serious concerns many Scottish residents have about the impact of onshore wind turbines on the environment and their communities.

‘It is important that such concerns are taken into account in the process for approving the installation of new power plants.’

But the Scottish Government signalled that its green energy drive would continue. A spokesman said: ‘Our policy on onshore wind farms aims to strike a careful balance between utilising Scotland’s significant renewable energy resources while protecting our finest scenic landscapes and natural heritage.’

A spokesman for the Whitehall department for business, energy and industrial strategy said: ‘In the last funding round over 40 per cent of successful UK projects were based in Scotland and further details of the new round will be made soon.’