Developers claim Dulater turbines are no bird threat – Courier

By Mark Mackay

Tourism and wildlife in one of Scotland’s most scenic visitor locations
would be unaffected by the presence of a windfarm, green energy developers
have claimed.

Ecotricity has stirred up a hornet’s nest with its proposals for 17
turbines at a sensitive location in Highland Perthshire.

The chosen site has boundaries with a string of nationally and
internationally important bird and plant habitats, including Loch of the
Lowes and the Forest of Clunie.

Anti-windfarm campaigners have already branded the choice of site for the
Dulater turbines “bizarre”, claiming it has no hope of seeing the light of day.

News of the development has also dismayed local groups, including Dunkeld
and Birnam Community Council, which is fighting a slew of windfarm
applications.

Gloucestershire-based Ecotricity is, however, confident its development can
be accommodated in the landscape with minimum disruption and will be
working hard to overcome opposition.

Spokesman Nick Osbourne said: “We have been building windfarms for 18 years
and only install turbines in locations we are absolutely confident can
accommodate them.

“Given the extensive assessments we have undertaken, we are very confident
the site is an appropriate place for a wind park of this size.

“There is currently no evidence that windfarms have a negative effect upon
tourism.

“We are confident that, particularly given its relative distance, the
prospective windfarm will not have any significantly negative impact on any
sites of natural significance.”

The presence of so much important bird life ­ including world-famous Osprey
Lady ­ has given opponents of windfarm proliferation considerable concern.

Nearby, the 68-turbine Griffin windfarm has in the past been linked to the
deaths of rare birds of prey, though RSPB Scotland has said such incidents
are relatively rare.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has said it will study the Dulater windfarm
plans in detail before forming an opinion but Mr Osbourne said it would
have little to worry about.

“We never install windfarms where there is a significant threat to birds,”
he said.

“For this site, our ecology team conducted habitat and protected species
surveys over a three-year period, as well as detailed additional desk studies.

“We are confident there are no adverse risks to local bird populations.”