Rosemary Goring Literary editor/columnist In a speech last week at the National Library of Scotland, Alexander McCall Smith spoke of his fear of countries and places losing their identities under the onward creep of globalisation. Part of his gloomy prediction for Scotland was that it would one day be covered Read more
Scott Wright Group business correspondent URBANWIND, the Glasgow-based renewables specialist, has secured deals worth more than £1 million to erect turbines for a farmer in Forfar and clients in Cumbria and the Midlands. The company said the orders highlight the surge in interest in small and medium-sized turbines as energy Read more
There are claims that businesses in Grantown could be left counting the cost if they do not object to ‘monstrous’ plans for 20 wind turbines which have just been lodged for a site to the north of the town. Leading British renewable energy developer, RES, has just submitted the application Read more
By David McKay A landmark commitment from Scotland’s wind energy sector to invest more in local communities was dismissed as “derisory” by campaigners last night. Scottish Renewables published a protocol committing to provide £5,000 to local projects for every megawatt of generating capacity at new onshore windfarms of 5MW and Read more
Moray Council was the first local authority in Scotland to call for a moratorium on windfarm developments. And the chairman of its planning committee warned last night the payments now being offered by the renewables industry could be perceived as a bribe. Douglas Ross said: “Clearly those living the nearest Read more
Borders councillors have cemented their stance against wind turbines being erected around the region’s highest hills. Wind Energy Limited wants to erect 22 of the green-energy structures on land at Earlshaugh in Tweedsmuir. The second-revised application has seen the proposed development scaled down in both numbers and height. But the Read more
Three centuries ago, it saw the last pitched battle to take place on English soil, the result ending the so-called “Pitchfork Rebellion” and securing the ruling dynasty, at least for a time. Now, dividing lines are once again being drawn at the site of the Battle of Sedgemoor, on the Read more
by Fred Pearce The sun’s activity is in free fall, according to a leading space physicist. But don’t expect a little ice age. “Solar activity is declining very fast at the moment,” Mike Lockwood, professor of space environmental physics at Reading University, UK, told New Scientist. “We estimate faster than Read more