Warnings as Duke plans a 140-turbine wind farm
SCOTLAND’S biggest private land owner yesterday announced plans for a massive 140-turbine wind farm in the hills around the country’s highest village.
The Duke of Buccleuch and a wind farm developer are examining the potential for the site in the Lowther Hills.
The l and- owning f amily’s business arm, Buccleuch, and developer 2020 Renewables claim it could ‘transform the area’.
But the proposed site is near the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area and Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire, the country’s highest village.
Last night campaigners reacted with anger over the scheme, which would be among the largest ever built in Scotland.
There is growing pressure to halt the spread of wind farms across Scotland after WWF Scotland figures showed wind farms had generated enough power to supply the electrical needs of 98 per cent of the country’s households on average in 2014.
It suggests the SNP’s target of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of the country’s electricity by renewables was all but met last year, six years ahead of the party’s 2020 deadline.
Buccleuch has held preliminary talks with other landowners, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Government over the wind farm.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘Wind power has a part to play in the energy mix, but the simple fact is that we are seeing too many large wind farm applications brought forward under the SNP Government.
‘I would hope that the Scottish Government would carry out a full and thorough consultation on these proposed plans before reaching a decision.’
It has been stressed that ‘ no decision to proceed’ has been taken and a range of options are being considered. John Glen, chief executive of Buccleuch, said the range of options for the site ‘ under active consideration’ include the potential to build up to 140 turbines.
‘At that scale the project would be one of Scotland’s largest wind farms, making a significant contribution to the Scottish Government’s renewable energy targets,’ he added.
Mr Glen claimed the wind farm could create 300 to 400 construction jobs over a four-year period with 20 to 30 operational jobs on completion.
Alan Baker, managing director of 2020 Renewables, said: ‘We are still in the early stages of this process and continue to develop our thinking.’
Linda Holt of Scotland Against Spin said: ‘Adding another 140 turbines to an area that by any measure is saturated is insane.
‘Scotland will begin to overshoot its 2020 target for 100 per cent renewable energy this year, and the last thing the country needs i s more expensive, unsightly and unreliable wind energy.’