IN MY VIEW
RENEWABLES are already Scotland’s main source of power, displacing 12 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, with onshore wind delivering the lion’s share.
The sector employs more than 5000 people, sharing £10 million of benefit to communities and investing millions into the economy.
Scotland’s most-valued landscapes are already offlimits to wind farms, and the rigorous nature of our planning rules means developments have to be said: “The National Grid pays most power generators, including coal and gas companies, to reduce output on occasion. It’s how they ensure consumer demand is met by supply in the most cost-effective way. “Those concerned about payments to power firms to reduce their output should be supporting our calls to see improvements to the grid, stronger interconnectors, and more energy designed and built to pass the strict tests set by local and national planning authorities.
Climate change remains the greatest threat to Scotland’s environment, and the pressing need to tackle it means we must clean up our energy system as quickly as possible.
Wind energy is one of the most effective, popular and cheapest ways to do so while storage capacity such as pumped hydro. Onshore wind is a huge success story, generating clean electricity, supporting thousands of jobs, and helping us to avoid millions of tonnes of carbon emissions.”
However, the development of wind farms in Scotland has faced strong opposition from community groups opposed to having them built in their local areas.
A Scottish Affairs Committee report said it received “a substantial number of submissions” raising concerns over turbines.
This included fears over the adverse impact they might have on house prices, the local environment, scenery and the health of local residents.
People have also voiced their opposition to constraint payments paid out to wind farm companies.
Susan Crossthwaite, 64, from Ballantrae, South Ayrshire, runs a B&B around 10km from the 60-turbine Arecleoch wind farm.
Susan said her customers complained about the proliferation of turbines in Scotland. She said: “My interest comes from the fact my visitors ask, ‘why are these landscapes being ruined?’.
“People say they are met with a wall of turbines as they approach the village of Barrhill. Plus our sleep is affected by the wind farms.”