Application fees
18 May 2012
Following the consultation on planning reform launched by Derek Mackay, the Minister for Local Government and Planning on 28 March 2012, the Energy Consents and Deployment Unit of the Scottish Government today issued a consultation on the fees paid for applications made under The Electricity Act 1989.
This consultation seeks views on the level of fees paid, whether these fees should vary for different technologies, and how this fee should be disbursed. The full consultation document is available for download here. The consultation is open now until Friday 29 June 2012 and responses should be directed to:
Lesley McNeil Energy Consents and Deployment Unit Scottish Government 4th Floor 5 Atlantic Quay 150 Broomielaw Glasgow G2 8LU lesley.mcneil@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
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Viking wind farm approved
4 April 2012
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has today granted consent for the Viking wind farm on Shetland, which will power more than 175,000 homes and bring around £30 million annual income for the local community.
The 370 MW wind farm, the third biggest in Scotland, will be able to power more than sixteen times the number of households on Shetland.
Viking wind farm is expected to bring an estimated £566 million of capital expenditure, and an annual income of £30 million per year to the Islands including £20 million to the Shetland Charitable Trust which will support projects such as community enterprises, community energy, skills and training, as well as around 140 jobs during the five years of construction and around 34 operational jobs. Scottish Ministers expect the developer to maximise the potential for local employment and use of local businesses.
The wind farm will allow the construction of an interconnector allowing Shetland to export electricity to the mainland, opening up further opportunities for the Islands to benefit from renewables, including community schemes and marine renewables.
The application was for 127 wind turbines, Ministers have withheld consent for 24 turbines in the northern Delting Parish section of the wind farm which would impact on Scatsta Airports instrument flight procedures.
The wind farm is the 50th renewable energy project consented by Scottish Ministers since May 2007.
The decision letter is available to view.
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Anglo-Scottish interconnector approval
19 January 2012
Planning consent has been granted for a change to the electricity grid that will allow new renewables developments to be connected to the grid.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has approved a change to the route of the existing Anglo-Scottish Interconnector 400kV overhead electricity transmission line at Bearholm near Moffat.
The change will move 1.8km of the existing line to connect the Moffat substation at Bearholm to the transmission grid. The substation will provide a connection for renewables developments in the Moffat area including the Harestanes (forest of Ae) wind farm. Five existing 46 metre high towers will be replaced with five new towers of the same height.
The decision letter is available to view.
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Two new wind farms approved
28 December 2011
Two wind farms which can power over 90,000 homes have been approved by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.
The 177 MW Dorenell wind farm on the Glenfiddich estate, near Dufftown in Moray, will power 84,000 homes - double the number of homes in Moray.
The project will see a capital investment of over £250 million, generating at least £93 million in direct benefits for the Scottish economy. Around 75 jobs will be created in construction, with further maintenance jobs once operational, and the developer, Infinergy will seek to use local contractors and suppliers.
Infinergy has also committed to deliver long lasting community benefits, worth around £350,000 per year, including new housing and tourism opportunities through a new visitor centre.
The six turbine, 21 MW extension to the 104 MW Muaitheabhal wind farm on the Eisgein estate in Lewis will add capacity to power an additional 9,000 homes.
The Muaitheabhal Community Windfarm Trust will benefit from a share of the revenue generated by the privately owned element of the consented Muaitheabhal wind farm and extension, and the developer will also pay a portion of its annual revenue to the Western Isles Development Trust.
Documents relating to the Muaitheabhal Wind Farm East Extension and Dorenell Wind Farm can be found on the Scottish Government website.
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Hunterston - public inquiry
13 December 2011
Scottish Ministers have deemed that a Public Local Inquiry will be held for Hunterston Multi-Fuel Power Station. Documents will be forwarded to the Scottish Government's Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals in due course.
Documents relating to the application can be found here.
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Beauly-Denny line - Action to improve landscape around upgraded line in Stirling
7 December 2011
Actions to improve the landscape around the Beauly-Denny upgrade in the Stirling area have been approved.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has approved ScottishPower Transmission's (SPT) plans to mitigate the visual impact of the line around Stirling, a condition of the Scottish Government's approval of the 400 kilovolt (kv), 137 mile electricity line upgrade.
The Minister has also set out additional compensatory mitigation measures to underground an extra seven kilometres of 132 kv line between Fallin and Glenbervie, and wider environmental and landscape improvements as part of a project to develop the Central Scotland Green Network to bring a long lasting benefit to communities in the Stirling area.
The Green Network - a network of woodland, walking and cycling routes, greenspace and waterways - is part of the National Planning Framework and SPT will work with public bodies to deliver widespread and long lasting improvements to the landscape and biodiversity.
Documents relating to the consent can be found at this link.
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Sutherland wind farm approval
22/11/2011
Planning consent has been granted for a wind farm which will generate 75.9 megawatts electricity or enough to power more than 35,000 homes - or around twice the number of homes in Inverness - with green energy.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has approved the Strathy North wind farm, 5km south of the village of Strathy in Sutherland.
The wind farm will have 33 wind turbines, and will create up to 100 jobs in the local community during construction, as well as longer term roles. It will deliver more than 3.5 million pounds of community benefit during the 25 years it will operate.
Documents relating to the Strathy North consent can be found at this link
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Approval for gas fired electricity power station to replace coal
05/10/2011
Plans to replace the coal fired power station at Cockenzie in East Lothian with a high efficiency gas station have been approved by Ministers.
The new 1,000 Megawatt Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power station will create up to 1,000 jobs in demolition and construction and 50 full time positions when completed.
Natural gas is a much more efficient fuel than coal and will more than halve carbon and nitrogen dioxide emissions compared to the existing power station.
The approval is in line with the recommendations of the report of the public inquiry. Conditions imposed on the consent will minimise disturbance in the area during construction and minimise impacts on the environment and on protected species.
The development will be carbon capture ready and will be required to fit full carbon capture and storage technology once it is commercially and technically proven.
A separate application for a 17.5 km pipeline from the existing gas network at East Fortune to the new power station has also been approved.
In addition, the Scottish Government has today published a new study that will help promote the most efficient use of waste heat in generating electricity.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:
"Alongside the vast increase in renewable energy that we are working towards, Scotland will still need conventional, clean fossil fuel power to provide a steady supply of electricity. This could be met by new build plant, upgrades to existing plants or a combination of both.
"Cockenzie power station is now over 40 years old. The new gas station will provide a far cleaner source of baseload electricity, with less than half the amount of carbon emissions, creating new jobs in East Lothian and new opportunities for existing Cockenzie staff in the process.
"The Cockenzie development is also designed to utilise the heat produced during the electricity generating process, which could help Scotland further decarbonise its heating sector. I have today published a new study on waste heat that shows it is technically possible to recover significant amounts of heat at large power stations, but that the financial case remains unattractive. We will consider how the planning system can best support heat recovery and our Expert Commission on the delivery of district heating, to be established shortly, will look at the recommendations of the study."
Documents relating to the Cockenzie decision can be found at this link.
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Kinlochleven hydro scheme approved
22/07/2011
A new hydro-electric scheme in the Highlands has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government.
The 5 Megawatt (MW) development at Loch Eilde Mor, near Kinlochleven, is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power around 2,400 homes and create around 12 jobs during construction
The Scottish Government has also consented a refurbishment of the existing Innerhadden hydro-scheme near Kinloch Rannoch in Perth and Kinross, which will see the installation of two new weirs with self cleaning screens. This will allow the scheme to generate energy to its expected capacity of 1.4 MW.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:
"I have carefully considered the application for development at Loch Eilde Mor and this is a good scheme which will provide new green energy source and sustainable economic benefits - an excellent example of using our natural assets in harmony with the environment.
"The Scottish Government's target is to meet the equivalent of 100 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2020, and every new hydro-scheme is another step towards realising that goal.
"I have also consented a refurbishment of the Innerhadden hydro-scheme in Perth and Kinross, which although already generating renewable energy, will enable it to maximise its output."
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Black Law and Blackcraig wind farms approved
22/03/2011
A 69 Megawatt (MW), 23 turbine extension to the existing Black Law wind farm near Shotts and a 69 MW 23 turbine wind farm at Blackcraig Hill near New Galloway have been consented by Ministers.
Consent documents can be found on the Scottish Government website for Black Law and Blackcraig Hill wind farms.
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Maldie Burn Hydro approved
17/01/2011
A hydro scheme that can power 2,500 homes in Sutherland has been approved by Ministers. The 4.5 megawatt scheme on the Maldie Burn, near Kylestrome, will create around 25 jobs during construction, with income from the scheme providing increased security for employment of the estate employees. The relevant documents can be viewed here.
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Ederline Hydro approved
30/12/2010
An application for consent to construct and operate the 1.7 MW Ederline hydro-electric generating station, South of Loch Awe, has today been approved by Scottish Ministers.
The relevant documents will be available to view on the Energy Consents section of the website shortly.
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Dunmaglass Wind Farm approved
29/12/2010
Scottish Ministers have given their consent for the construction of Dunmaglass wind farm. The relevant documents will be published on the Energy Consents section of the website shortly.
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Borders wind farm approval
09/11/2010
Energy Minister Jim Mather today announced the approval of Fallago Rig wind farm in the Scottish Borders, which can power 66,000 homes with green energy - more houses than the Borders.
The 48 turbines have a generating capacity of up to 144 megawatts (MW) and will play a vital role in Scotland meeting its world leading climate change targets. Developers, North British Wind Power Limited gained approval of the site following a rigorous consultation process.
Documents relating to Fallago Rig can be found at this link.
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Biomass scoping
26/04/2010
Today the Scottish Government has published its scoping advice on the proposed Forth Energy biomass plants at Rosyth, Grangemouth, Dundee and Leith. These scoping opinions have been compiled with expert advice from our range of consultees and comprises advice to Forth Energy on the content of their full Environmental Statement, due to accompany their application later this year. The Scoping Opinions for all four plants can be downloaded here.
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Cleaning up emissions from Longannet
12/03/2010
Longannet power station will be cleaner and operate longer thanks to new technology given the go ahead today.
ScottishPower's application to fit 'selective catalytic reduction' equipment to three of the four boilers has been approved by Energy Minister Jim Mather. A strategy to manage and dispose of the ash that will be generated as a result has also been approved.
Mr Mather said:
"This project will significantly reduce the harmful sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions from Longannet: it will help the facility meet stringent European requirements for large power stations and extend the operational life of the station by an extra 10 years to 2030, further contributing to Scotland's energy security.
"In addition to these developments, we are taking action to make Scotland a world leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS). I welcome ScottishPower's commitment to making Longannet such a strong contender to win the UK CCS competition. I congratulate them on their success today in being awarded funding for an engineering study to progress to demonstration of commercial scale CCS technology."
The consent and decision letter can be found at this link.
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Arecleoch Wind Farm grid connection approved
12/03/2010
An application for an overhead line in South Ayrshire, to connect Arecleoch wind farm to Mark Hill wind farm, has been approved. The consent and decision letter can be found here.
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Vision for carbon capture in Scotland
10/03/2010
A vision to make Scotland the world leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been published.
The carbon capture and storage roadmap, produced by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, is a comprehensive set of actions to put Scotland at the forefront of CCS development. These include:
- Setting out a vision for CCS in Scotland including aiming to develop a number of demonstration projects;
- Making CCS a key economic sector for Scotland and maximising EU and UK support for Scotland's ambitions;
- The development of an offshore carbon licensing regime;
- Identification of the skills and training needs to match industry demand.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said:
"Scotland has all the attributes to become a world leader in carbon capture. The North Sea alone has enough capacity to store emissions from industrial coal-fired plants for the next 200 years - a capacity greater than Netherlands, Denmark and Germany combined.
"Scotland already has elements of the required onshore and offshore infrastructure and our skills in the oil, gas and engineering industries can be utilised to help the industry grow and develop. As a hugely important technology in the fight against climate change, CCS offers Scotland a fantastic platform for low carbon economic growth.
"We now want to see a number of CCS demonstration projects developed in Scotland Today's plan takes us further down that road by setting out our ambitions and the actions needed if our vision of CCS playing a part in our future energy supply is to be realised.
"The Scottish Government will work with our partners in industry, academia and in the UK Government and Europe to ensure that Scotland can deliver on the opportunities that CCS provides. We have already achieved a significant amount of progress in this area but we know that more needs to be done as we move into the demonstration phase."
The carbon capture and storage roadmap is published at this link.
The guidance for thermal power stations can be found at this link.
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Presentations from the Radar Feasibility Report Seminar
10/03/2010
The Scottish Government hosted a seminar to inform industry of the Radar Feasibility Report on 8 March 2010. This was well attended with representatives from Scottish Government Energy Consents and Deployment Unit, Scottish Government Directorate for the Built Environment, RenewablesUK, Scottish Renewables Forum, NATS Services Ltd, NATS En Route, BAA, Infratil and 80 developers. The presentations given at the seminar can be accessed at this link and the SW Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Group will continue to meet to discuss the implementation of any solution.
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Biomass Scoping Advice
25/02/2010
The Scottish Government has today issued its Generic Biomass Scoping Advice, this advice would apply to any developer who wished to construct a biomass plant in Scotland and advises what information Scottish Ministers would expect to be covered in their full Environmental Statement. The advice can be downloaded here.
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SW Scotland Radar Feasibility Report
15/02/2010
The Scottish Government have today published the SW Scotland Radar Feasibility Report. This report follows the work of the SW Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Group and concerns the feasibility of applying a multi-radar tracking solution to the SW Scotland region. The report will be introduced to industry through a seminar being hosted by the Scottish Government at their offices at 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow on 8th March 2010 at 1pm. Places at this seminar will be strictly limited on a first-come-first-served basis, if you wish to attend please contact Energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk and lesley.mcneil@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. The report can be downloaded here.
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Beauly to Denny wayleaves consented
05/02/2010
Applications to allow the upgraded Beauly-Denny line to be built and maintained have been approved by Energy Minister Jim Mather.
Applications for 106 wayleaves have been approved, subject to conditions in some cases. These are necessary agreements which allow access to land and let the developers fulfil their statutory obligations to install and maintain the upgraded line.
Five Compulsory Purchase Orders giving the applicants rights over land to enable construction of the upgraded line have also been approved.
Links to related documents can be found at this link.
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Lewis to get first major wind farm - Green light for Muaitheabhal green energy scheme
14/01/2010
The first large scale wind farm in the Western Isles has been approved.
Energy Minister Jim Mather has approved a 33 turbine, 118 Megawatt (MW) wind farm at Muaitheabhal providing green electricity for 55,000 homes, nearly four times the number of homes on the islands.
The development will create around 150 construction jobs with further permanent jobs when operational. The applicant has committed to use locally sourced material, labour, transport and plant hire wherever possible to ensure maximum economic benefit to the Isles.
The developer has entered into a formal agreement with the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar committing one per cent of turnover of the wind farm to the Muaitheabhal Community Wind Farm Trust, to enhance the ecological and cultural heritage resource of the Eisgein estate. Additionally, a further 0.5 per cent of slice of turnover will be paid to the Western Isles Development Trust.
To improve the visual impact of the scheme, today's consent removes six turbines from the application for a 39 turbine, 140 MW wind farm. The Minister has also imposed conditions to protect the natural environment and cultural heritage.
Documents relating to the consent can be found at this link.
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Two wind farms schemes approved
12/01/2010
Two wind farm schemes that can supply around 45,000 homes with electricity have been approved.
The 52.5 Megawatt (MW) Baillie wind farm near Thurso will supply almost 25,000 homes and feed electricity in to the upgraded Beauly-Denny line. The £80 million scheme will create 30 jobs during construction with permanent local operation and maintenance jobs. The applicant will make an annual contribution to the West Caithness Community Fund to support local projects and five local businesses will be supported by rental income.
An extension to the Rothes wind farm near Elgin will boost capacity by an additional 45 MW, increasing the generating capacity from 50 MW to 95 MW. The extension will be capable of supplying over 20,000 homes. Around 60 construction jobs will be created, with permanent local operation and maintenance jobs. A community benefit fund will also be established.
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Beauly to Denny upgrade approved
06/01/2010
The Beauly - Denny power line upgrade has been approved.
The upgrade will boost grid capacity along the line and unlock Scotland's onshore and offshore renewables potential.
Extensive conditions have been imposed to protect the interests of communities and minimise the impact on the environment along the line.
Energy Minister Jim Mather told Parliament of his decision today.
Consent documents and other information can be found at this link.
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First Minister confirms go-ahead for expansion of Europe largest wind farm
The First Minister also announced that Europe's largest wind farm, Whitelee on Eaglesham Moor, has received planning approval to expand its capacity to 593 MW - enabling it to power 275,000 homes and support 200 jobs. The local community will get up to £350,000 every year from the wind farm extension to spend on projects.
The First Minister said: "Scotland continues to lead the way in developing the technology and capacity - in renewables, in carbon capture, in energy efficiency measures - to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.
"The Whitelee extension underlines Scotland's place at the cutting edge of green energy and our comprehensive climate change framework, including the world-leading emission reduction targets of 42 per cent and 80 per cent by 2020 and 2050 respectively, and the pioneering carbon assessment of our 2010-11 budget, provide a lead to other governments.
The consent and related documents can be found here.
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Aikengall II - Wester Dod wind farm representations
10/12/2009
The deadline for public consultation responses to the proposed Aikengall II - Wester Dod wind farm is now December 21 2009.
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Fallago Rig PLI
23/11/2009
The Fallago Rig PLI Report resulting from the Fallago Rig Public Inquiry held in February 2008 is now available on the Scottish Government website at the following link.
The re-opened PLI will be heard in Spring 2010 and will consider all matters which have arisen since the close of this Inquiry
The report can be found at this link.
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Scope of Re-Opened Public Local Inquiry into Fallago Rig Altered
11/11/2009
Further to various representations received, Scottish Ministers have decided today to extend the remit of the re-opened Public Local Inquiry into the proposed Fallago Rig wind farm. A revised Minute of Appointment will be issued to the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals today asking the Reporter to consider all matters which have arisen since the close of the original Inquiry and to provide Scottish Ministers with an addendum to the original report detailing the consideration of these points.
We fully expect that in making this change there should be no significant alteration to the date of the hearing of the re-opened Inquiry. The Inquiry will be held, subject to availability of parties, in Spring of 2010.
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Kilbraur Wind Farm Extension approved
14/09/2009
A new wind farm in Sutherland has been given approval to extend.
The eight turbine extension to the Kilbraur wind farm near Golspie will increase capacity from 47.5 Megawatts (MW) to 67.5 Megawatts.
When fully operational, the wind farm will provide electricity for around 31,000 homes.
The extension will create around 30 jobs during construction.
Speaking at the Sutherland Summit in Lairg, Energy Minister Jim Mather said:
"Renewable energy is driving Scotland's economic recovery. The Kilbraur wind farm will provide construction jobs, green energy, reduced emissions and lasting community benefits - a model of the low carbon opportunities we can exploit for economic and environmental benefit.
"There is a vast renewables potential here, especially in the power of the Pentland Firth. Along with a lasting infrastructure and skills base from Dounreay, I am today discussing what more we can do to create and maintain lasting opportunities for the north Highland economy."
The consent document and decision letter can be found here.
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Scottish Government's policy on control of woodland removal
Internationally there is now a strong presumption against deforestation (which accounts for 18% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions). Reflecting this, in June 2008 Scottish Ministers approved a policy on control of woodland removal which seeks to protect the existing forest resource in Scotland, and supports woodland removal (deforestation) only where it would achieve significant and clearly defined additional public benefits. In some cases, including those associated with development, a proposal for compensatory planting may form part of this balance.
For Section 36 projects (projects over 50MW) which had Consent applications submitted prior to 1 September 2008, FCS will not request application of the policy. However FCS would still encourage developers to give voluntary consideration to the use of appropriate woodland management options (such as low intensity, low height woodland) that might reduce or avoid the need for woodland removal and hence enhance the carbon, biodiversity and landscape potential of their proposals.
For Section 36 Consent applications which were submitted to Scottish Ministers after 1 September 2008 but before 1st Sept 2009, FCS and the SG Consents team will, where appropriate, work with developers to agree how this policy might be best adopted within the application. [However, where Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) or statutory consultees did not raise objections or legitimate concerns about deforestation at the time of the Section 36 consents application, and where the time has now passed for comment, application of the policy will not be sought, although the developer may, of course, choose to apply it voluntarily].
From 1st Sept 2009 the policy applies to all new Consents applications or schemes submitted for scoping of Section 36 projects.
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Wind farm boost for low carbon Scotland
07/07/2009
Two wind farm developments that will supply green energy to around 43,000 more homes have been approved.
The 29 turbine Berry Burn wind farm, on the Altyre Estate near Forres, will have a capacity of 78 Megawatts (MW).
The six turbine extension to the 20 turbine Millennium wind farm near Fort Augustus will increase the capacity by 15 MW to 65 MW.
Combined, the schemes will employ around 100 people during construction and provide five full time jobs
The documents relating to the consent of Berry Burn wind farm and the Millennium extension can be found on the Scottish Government website.
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New evidence available on Fallago Wind Farm proposal
The Public Inquiry into the proposed Fallago Rig wind farm in the Scottish Borders Council area was held in February 2008. In October 2008 Scottish Ministers were made aware of potential new evidence that should be considered prior to any determination and wrote to North British Wind Power and the Ministry of Defence giving both parties the opportunity to supply new evidence. The Ministry of Defence withdrew their objection to the proposal on 15 July 2009 and submitted evidence to support this change in position. This evidence has been provided to all those who appeared at the Inquiry and they have been afforded 3 weeks in which to make representations on the new evidence or to request the re-opening of the Inquiry based on this new evidence.
The Ministry of Defence's new evidence can be found at this link.
Subsequently, North British Wind Power have also submitted a revision to their proposal. Information on this revision can be found at this link.
Any representations can be made by email to energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, or by completing the Support/Object form.
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UK Government's Renewable Energy Deployment Environmental Issues Project Board
15/07/2009
The Scottish Government is working with the UK government to develop understanding and solutions that will enable more effective management of the environmental issues related to the deployment of renewable energy in the UK. This work through the Renewable Energy Deployment and Environmental Issues Project Board will help the UK and Scotland meet its commitments under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, and to do so in an environmentally sustainable way.
The project will also identify ways of improving the application of environmental legislation to meet renewable energy targets at the project level and identifying the resources required to do so.
The full statement can be read at this link.
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