A million pounds has been pumped into Perthshire’s rural economy through grants from two Highland wind farms. Perth-based power firm SSE’s Griffin and Calliachar wind farm community fund recently passed the million pound milestone for cash given to local projects. Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem, Dunkeld and Birnam, Kenmore and District, Read more
Dalmellington Community Council have urged locals to rally round and hammer a final nail in the coffin of a controversial wind farm. Back in January, council chiefs received rapturous applause when they rejected the proposal by Infinis to build eight massive wind turbines close to the Chalmerston opencast site. They Read more
Residents in a village in Cumbria are claiming a nearby windfarm is causing flooding and drying up natural water supplies. Pete Johnston’s home in Gilcrux, has been flooded since the Tallentire windfarm was built and he believes the concrete and roadways which replaced the farmland are preventing water being absorbed Read more
A CONTROVERSIAL wind farm application near the Cheviot Hills which attracted around 1200 objections has been thrown out by planning officials at Scottish Borders Council. Swedish firm Vattenfall had wanted to erect five 110 metre-high turbines at the Whitton wind farm near Morebattle. But the plans met with fierce opposition Read more
The Scottish Government’s drive to cover Scotland in windfarms has reached the school playground bringing new burdens for the taxpayer, figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives have revealed. More than two-thirds of Scotland’s councils have spent nearly £1.5 million of public money building wind turbines on school grounds, yet already Read more
EURO-MPs were yesterday accused of trying to strangle shale gas exploration with red tape. The European Parliament’s environment committee ruled that all work aiming to identify underground reserves must only be approved following “environmental impact assessments”. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5009162/Anger-at-Brussels-attacking-fracking-as-Brits-back-shale-gas-exploration-in-Sun-poll.html
FRANCE: The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has concluded that the French tariff system for wind power falls within the concept of state aid. The ruling means the government should have notified the European Commission (EC) when it issued the decree defining the tariff in 2008. Read more
Researchers in Germany who are working on ways of storing renewable energy say their plans are being hampered by feed-in tariffs. The subsidies have encouraged thousands of householders to become energy producers by investing in solar and wind power. But one leading scientist told the BBC that these same tariffs Read more