THE SNP-Green government’s race towards installing thousands of new wind turbines could produce an “unjust transition” for Aberdeenshire and rural Scotland, MSPs heard.
Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett warned of communities feeling “under siege” by industrial-scale onshore wind developments, or multiple smaller ones which create the effect of “a ring of steel”.
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During his Members’ Business debate at Holyrood, the Scottish Conservative MSP highlighted the peril facing residents of the Cabrach in the Upper Deveron valley, and near the Hill of Fare on Royal Deeside – the first windfarm to be built there.
He cited overwhelming local opposition to developments, and the fact they will be decided by the Energy Consents Unit at Edinburgh, with no input from any elected representatives – and based on outdated science about noise generation.
The ETSU-R-97 guidance on noise pollution used by the ECU has been reviewed, and windfarms approved now will not meet the recommendations once they are completed.
The UK Government told Mr Burnett that science updates can be used by the ECU, and he asked for a moratorium on new applications until the recommendations have been implemented.
Mr Burnett also asked Energy Minister Gillian Martin to require the Energy Consents Unit to meet local communities impacted by their decisions.
He told MSPs:
“All across Scotland, communities face being under siege by wind farm developments, despite strong opposition to them.
“It is vital that the views of communities affected are heard and properly considered.”
Mr Burnett said he is “not completely opposed to onshore windfarms” as they can produce community benefit while being sensitive to the areas they are planned for.
“We do need energy diversification and everyone will need to play their part in a just transition,” he added.
“I’ve met with communities dominated by windfarms, described as being surrounded by a ‘ring of steel’.
“Renewable energy is important to meet net zero targets, but this is an ‘unjust transition’ costing local communities, historical sites, and the environment.
“And rural communities are powerless to stop these modern-day Highland clearances.”
In the Cabrach, extensions at Clashindarroch and Craig Watch developments will see an additional 54 turbines, making it 146 turbines in total within a 10km radius.
The Hill of Fare proposal near Banchory is for 16 turbines, some 200m tall, on a hill which is itself 300m above the landscape.
The Nae Fare group wrote to the First Minister last month following a survey by 8 Community Councils that found 71% of residents oppose the development. Humza Yousaf is yet to respond.
The Scottish Government recommends a community benefit of £5,000 per megawatt hour. This was introduced in 2014 and does not account for inflation.
