Thursday 16 October - ABO Wind UK and Eurowind withdraw wind farm proposals

Good news. Eurowind UK has withdrawn its application for the 17-turbine Nathro Hill wind farm on the Carseton Estate. The company did say however that "the decision will "allow more time to deepen and strengthen ongoing discussions over the community ownership element of the development" and it "fully expects to take the project forward at a later date". I'm skeptical about that.

In a second piece of good news, ABO Wind UK has withdrawn its application to erect five turbines
near Cnoc a' Bhreacaich near Ben Wyvis.

I'm not known for my optimism when it comes to opposing wind farm developments in Scotland but could the tide be turning? Maybe.

His hypocrisy knows no bounds

The First Minister commissioned Dame Elizabeth Blackwell to produce the image for the First Minister's 2012 Christmas card and the art work will be auctioned next year in aid of good causes. Fine, but be prepared to throw up now:   

Mr Salmond said :"Throughout 2013 we will celebrate the outstanding and diverse beauty of this country in the Year of Natural Scotland, where we encourage people to get out and enjoy what the great outdoors has to offer".

  

That's fine say the RSPB and SNH

The RSPB and SNH have dropped objections to a proposed wind farm on Lewis following Lewis Wind Power's decision to reduce the number of turbines from 42 to 36. This reduction apparently significantly reduces the threat to golden eagles and red throated divers. Really? One of the best decisons I ever made was to stop my membership of the RSPB. The article is here

What a coincidence

Read this then this and draw your own conclusions.

Moy approved

The Scottish government has approved a 20 turbine wind power station at Moy near Inverness.
The developer appealed Highland Council's refusal of planning permission following the council's failure to reach a decision within the statutory four month period. How incompetent is that?

Posted using BlackBerry

Trump halts work on golf course over turbines

This will be interesting - see article here.

Turbine down - one goes on fire

How often have you wanted to see this Mr Sloman? All turbines had been turned off because of storm force winds. Sensible policy Mr Salmond's pursuing then. Houses had to be evacuated after the turbine brake system failed and the blades 'free-wheeled'. It appears the turbine couldn't cope with gusts of 50mph.

Source: BBC Scotland News

Abandoned wind turbines in the USA

QDanT  has given me this link which is worth reading.  http://toryaardvark.com/2011/11/17/14000-abandoned-wind-turbines-in-the-usa/

Edit: I should have said that there is some controversy about the source of the information presented.

Strathy North wind turbines approved

The Scottish government has given approval for SSE’s 33-turbine wind power station, 3 miles south of the village of Strathy in Sutherland. The Highland Council had already approved the plans despite 166 letters of objection and only eight in support.

The RSPB has condemned the decision since it could affect protected species – Golden Eagle and hen harrier populations nest nearby; black and white-throated divers nest on nearby lochs. The site, close to the Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve is “bounded on three sides by a special area of conservation and special area for bird life”

The RSPB has also objected to SSE’s plans for 77 turbines at Strathy south and a third windfarm (different developer) at Strathy Forest.

 Alex Salmond and SNP Government continue their vandalism on the Scottish landscape.



                      The turbines at Burnfoot in the Ochils – and more are proposed.

Anti-windfarm conference, Ayr

The above conference is being organised by CATS, Communities Against Turbines Scotland. A report can be found here.  More encouraging news.

'Overambitious' Scottish renewable energy plans

A brief BBC report can be found here. Could the tide be turning? 

Windhead Moor wind farm plans withdrawn

'Hen harriers 'scupper' wind farm'. Article here

Excellent news.

Save the Monadhliath Mountains- Allt Duine windfarm

In the early 1980s the Cairngorm Chairlift Company proposed extending lifts into Lurcher's Gully. The Public Enquiry received 7120 letters of objection and 135 supporting the proposal. The proposal was rejected.

By contrast, to date, only a mere 657 people  have signed the 'savemonadhliathmountains' petition. This is pathetic! If you oppose the destruction of the wild Monadhliath sign this petition NOW. Win the battle or lose it, I can't  see how you can continue to walk or climb in the Scottish hills with a clear conscience if you don't.  Sign the petition HERE.

(The Scottish Government in their budget proposals for the next three years are planning to invest £200m in renewables btw)

Wind turbine proposal – Druim Ba Sustainable Energy

 Councillors are to consider plans from Druim Ba Sustainable Energy to erect 23, 490ft turbines on forestry land between Abriachan and Kiltarlity. An Action Group has been set up to oppose the development. I wish them all the best.

Denny to Beauly Power line

Traffic management plans have been finalised for the B8033 Kinbuck Road (Kinbuck is north of Dunblane) as part of the work required for the above power line.

So, if anyone still harbours thoughts that the march of wind power stations across the Highlands, and not-so-highland parts of Scotland, can be halted or effectively opposed, think again.

It grieves me to say so having opposed such monstrosities since around 2004 when Mellock Hill, near Yetts o' Muckhart was threatened.But there it is.

Loch Lomond wind power station proposed - Ard Ghaoth

Banks Renewables hopes to build a wind power station with 20 turbines near loch Lomond, a few miles east of Conic Hill, with each turbine being about 100m high. The usual bribery package will be offered to local communities if the application is approved.

The company is about to submit an application for a wind monitoring mast which will establish whether the site is viable, and ecological and ornithological surveys will also be carried out. Given that Stirling Council has identified the area as potentially suitable for wind power station development, it is hardly likely to reject the application - which is what it should do.

Source: BBC Scotland News



Note the line of the WHW near Conic Hill. Click to enlarge.



Wind Prospect plans Burnfoot Wind Power Station extension.



Wind Prospect's Plans.
Blue area - Clackmannanshire, Green - Perth and Kinross.
Black dots - current turbines.




















Wind Prospect which built the 13-turbine Burnfoot Wind Power Station now wish to apply to build another 22 turbines as shown on the above map. If granted, they have 'promised' that they will not submit any future applications for turbines 'in the immediate area'. How good of them.

Burnfoot should never have been approved and Wind Prospect have clearly adopted the now common strategy of obtaining approval for a relatively small number of turbines then applying for extensions at a later date.

If this new development is approved, the Ochils are really on their way to becoming one big wind power station.

Minch Moor wind power station refused

The Government reporter has dismissed an application by Swedish company Vattenfall to erect 12 turbines at Minch Moor in the Scottish Borders on the grounds that "the landscape and visual effects make the proposed wind farm unacceptable". Some of the turbines would have been built alongside the Southern Upland Way and it has taken eight years for the issue to be resolved.

Of course, the grounds for rejection apply everywhere these monstrosities are being built in Scotland. I fear that these 12 turbines will just appear somewhere else.

Tomatin wind power station proposal

The Cairngorm National Park Authority has said that the park's "sense of wildness" would be harmed if the proposed wind power station comprising 29 turbines at Glenkirk, near Tomatin, were to be approved. The initial application by Eurus Energy was for 34 turbines.

The park's planning officers have recommended that the planning committee object to the proposal.

The turbines would be visible from several areas within the park including some areas of Aviemore and Glenmore as well as from Meall a Bhuachaille.

The Planning Committee will meet in Boat of Garten.

Below is a photograph of the Burnfoot turbines in the Ochils, taken from Glen Bee, none of which were turning on the five days we spent on these hills last week. The Green Knowes turbines were doing no better and this state of affairs is far from unusual.

Burnfoot turbines

Before the turbines

And another

A nineteen-turbine wind power station at Corriemollie (Loch Luichart) near Garve has been recommended for approval by Highland Council.