Scottish 21 MW approved

Wind energy in Scotland received another boost when the local authority approved plans for 21 turbines in the Glens of Foudland, Aberdeenshire. Ray Hunter from developer Renewable Energy Systems says that at every stage of the decision process within the local authority, support for the 21 MW scheme was unanimous. "RES and the council worked together to consider the concerns and views of the local community and addressed them through modifications to the scheme and the appropriate use of planning conditions." The scheme is RES's second Scottish project to gain consent in three months. In contrast, last year RES had four wind farms turned down in England with no approvals. "Local planning authorities in England and Wales must recognise, as Scottish councillors clearly do, that the small but vociferous opposition groups are not representative of the wider population," he adds.