Outrage over bid to erect 200m super-turbines on isle of Lewis
Giant turbines which would be the tallest on land in the UK could be erected in the Outer Hebrides if new plans go ahead.
The proposed structures would stand up to 200m high, around the same height as the top of the new Queensferry Crossing over the Forth but towering 70m above Scotland’s highest building.
They will be built on the isle of Lewis at two wind farms being developed by Lewis Wind Power (LWP), a joint venture by energy giants EDF and Wood Group. The firm already has permission for 91 150m-tall turbines – 45 at Uisenis, on Eishken estate, and 36outside Stornoway.
But developers say increasing the size of the turbines will reduce the number required and generate more energy.
However, locals have reacted with anger over the new plans. Concerns have also been raised that the additional power generated by the massive turbines could supply almost the entire capacity of a proposed new interconnector cable that would transport power to the mainland, meaning community energy schemes could not link up to it.
Calum Macdonald, former Western Isles MP and developer of the three-turbine Beinn Ghrideag community wind farm, described the scale of the turbines as “staggering”.
Talking to Hebrides Writer blogger Katie Laing, he said: “These are the same size as the gigantic offshore tur- bines now being built in the North Sea. They are out to sea for a good reason, which is that their enormous size is thought to make them unacceptable anywhere onshore, far less near a town like Stornoway or near an iconic location like Loch Seaforth.”
Rhoda Mackenzie, spokeswoman for four common grazings groups who want to develop their own community schemes, fears the turbines could harm vital tourism.
She said: “When it starts gettingintosuper-turbines,that’s intrusive. It’s intrusive for the people that live near them. It’s intrusive to the landscape.
She added: “The largest wind turbines in the UK? I hardly think that’s going to bring people here.”
The Tories ended subsidies
0 Lewis Wind Power wants to build 200m high wind turbines at Uisenis on the island for onshore wind, but said an exemption will be made for schemes in the Scottish islands that “directly benefit the local communities”.
This means LWP could bid for subsidies under the Contract for Difference scheme, which guarantees a minimum price for electricity.
Will Collins, project manager for LWP, said: “The benefits from developing and exporting wind power from Lewis will only become a reality if island projects win contracts in a competitive auction for low-carbon electricity.
“It’s therefore important that we look at all the options before deciding what we think gives the two wind farms the best possible chance of success.” Threats to press freedom posed by laws going through parliament receded after the regulator announced changes to resolve legal disputes involving newspapers which “should” satisfy Tory rebels who suggested they could back a crackdown.
A Tory source felt the majority of Conservative rebel MPS, who have spoken in favour of the second stage of the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, are now more likely to back down in an imminent Commons vote on whether it should go ahead.
Prime Minister Theresa May will seek to overturn attempts by the House of Lords to insert Leveson two and Section 40 into the Data Protection Bill when it returns to the Commons in the coming weeks.
They are backed by Labour and there have been suggestions rebel Tories could also support them in crunch votes on the Bill. But after the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) announced the creation of a compulsory arbitration scheme, the source said the move “would satisfy the vast majority of Conservative MPS.” The move will mean that someone who has a claim against a newspaper who could have gone to court can ask for arbitration of their claim at a maximum cost of £100.