The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Councillors to rule on 85-turbine wind farm
Planning: Controversy-hit project earmarked for approval
A controversial offshore wind farm could be approved next week.
The Moray West offshore wind farm is due to provide energy to 90,000 homes, with up to 85 turbines in the Moray Firth.
It involves laying almost four miles of cable from climbing spot Redhythe Point, just east of Sandend, southwards to Fordyce and then Cotton Hill.
Aberdeenshire and Moray councils will discuss the scheme on Thursday and its officers have recommended giving the EDP Renewables project permission in principle.
The offshore element of the plan, which spans the Aberdeenshire and Moray council areas, is under Marine Scotland’s jurisdiction and is being considered.
A report by Stephen Archer, Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure boss, said: “The proposal is consistent with the development plan’s aims of reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change.
“It also contributes to the Scottish Government’s national planning framework’s aim to move Scotland towards creating a lowcarbon place.”
The Redhythe Point cliffsare about half a mile from where EDP wants to bring the cables onshore, but climbers want risk or impact assessments.
Local climber Stuart Campbell previously raised concerns, saying: “Us climbers aren’t likely, and don’t intend, to stop the whole project.
“The problem is they have no way of knowing if there are likely to be risks from construction work, rock fall or the cliff collapsing or how best to manage any risks.”
An onshore substation would also have to be built, on land to the south of Keith, where the Blairhillock site is currently located.
There was opposition when the cables were at first earmarked for Sandend Beach but the developer later changed their location.
EDP said it had listened to campaigners.
A spokesman said: “If the applications for the onshore underground cabling works are approved the project will be an important step closer to bringing jobs and investment benefits.
“Moray West has the potential to be a major energy infrastructure project in the north-east, providing affordable and low carbon power to meet Scottish and UK goals.”
“An important step closer to bringing jobs and investment”