20km power line claim over wind farm bid
A new power line could be built through the Galloway Hills to connect a proposed wind farm to the grid, it is being claimed.
RES is preparing a planning application to construct up to 22 giant turbines around Blair Hill, north of Minnigaff.
The project has already encountered stiff criticism over the potential visual impact on nearby mountain landscapes.
The turbines would stand up to 250 metres tall (820 feet) – almost the same height as the Eiffel Tower.
Now the chairman of RES’own community liaison group (CLG), Iain Service, says a 20-kilometre overhead line to the sub-station at Glenlee near Dalry could be required for the scheme to become operational.
His comments follow the latest CLG meeting when he asked RES if it had received assurances from Scottish Power that a“useable and deliverable grid connection ”would be offered for Blair Hill Wind Farm.
In response, RES said it had held talks with SPT (Scottish Power Transmission) on grid connection possibilities for Blair Hill and would be“revisiting these discussions” before submitting a connection application.
It added:“The resulting connection offer that we will receive will outline proposed connection solution for Blair Hill.
“It is only at this point that we will properly understand the detailed plans for grid connection of Blair Hill.”
Mr Service told the News:“It isn’t fair that a big company can get planning permission for a wind farm without telling the local community how it will be connected to the national grid.
“From what they have told us, to connect up Blair Hill, it looks as if they will need to build a big new power line round the back of Murray’s monument, past the side of Clatteringshaws and down through Glenlee.
“The wind turbines will scar the landscape enough without us having to look at 16 or 17 miles of new pylons going right through the middle of the Galloway Forest Park.”
He added:“The developers know they can get planning permission without mentioning grid connection but why not be open about it?
“If they genuinely mean to build the wind farm they will need a grid connection – so why wouldn’t they find out all about one before they did a planning application?
“Do they know something that they don’t want us to know, or is there something else going on with them?”
Graeme Kerr, RES’project manager said:“RES has requested a grid connection offer for the proposed Blair Hill Wind Farm and while we expect the project to be connected into a substation at Glenlee, this is subject to confirmation in the coming months.
“Once the transmission owner has finalised the grid route design and submitted a planning application, a consultation period will follow during which people will have the opportunity to comment on the details provided as part of that separate planning process.
“The fact that the grid route and connection point is yet to be confirmed is not unusual for this stage of any wind farm’s development.
“However, we have committed to keeping the CLG informed of this process and sharing information as and when we receive it.
RES will hold two further exhibitions on its plans – at the McMillan Hall in Newton Stewart on May 21 and at St Couan’s Hall in Kirkcowan on May 22, both running from 3pm to 8pm.