Energy chiefs seek action on wind farm

● Renewables giants demand resolution after RSPB’S move

0 Bass Rock in the Forth is home to thousands of sea birds which the RSPB say could be affected Renewables giants are demanding urgent action from Scottish ministers to resolve a legal action threatening plans for a major wind farm off the Fife coast.

Senior executives of Mainstream, Marubeni, Europower, Siemens and Intergen have expressed their disappointment at a judicial review taken against the Neart na Gaoithe offshore power station by the RSPB.

In a letter to The Scotsman (above, an edited version), they say the project will create hundreds of jobs and call on the Scottish Government to urgently set out what steps it intends to take next.

Earlier this month the RSPB won a legal action against the decision by Scottish ministers to allow four large offshore wind farms, including Neart na Gaoithe, to be erected in the outer firths of the Forth and Tay. Many environmentalists had welcomed the plans but RSPB Scotland argued their impact on seabirds would be too great.

A petition for judicial review of the decision has been granted by Lord Stewart after hearings at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

In their letter, the renewables’ executives said: “It is now for Scottish ministers urgently to set out how they will address the result of the judicial review positively to ensure the opportunity is grasped, and to work with us and our partners to ensure that this nationally significant project is properly consented and brought into operation in the very near term.

“The global energy industry is watching how Scotland’s Government acts over the coming days.”

Lloyd Austin, RSPB head of policy, said: “Whilst RSPB Scotland will continue to robustly resist any projects which threaten Scotland’s best places for wildlife we also remain resolutely supportive of the development of renewable energy sources in Scotland.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scottish ministers are in the process of considering Lord Stewart’s judgement and its implications and are actively seeking a course of action and outcome that optimises the potential for Scotland’s wind industry and our renewable energy ambitions.”