By Iain Ramage
The Scottish Government last night promised to contact activists who want a
“summit for communities” to openly debate windfarms with Energy Minister
Fergus Ewing.
Campaign group Scotland Against Spin (SAS) heads a list of almost 40
organisations angry that he recently hosted an event in Glasgow for 200
pro-windfarm delegates.
That conference addressed industry complaints about the UK Government’s
decision to scrap public subsidies for developers with the hope of shaping
Scottish Government policy in future talks with new UK energy minister
Amber Rudd.
It prompted windfarm objectors to send Mr Ewing an “open letter” demanding
parity.
SAS spokesman Graham Lang said: “When the Scottish cabinet visited Cupar,
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon publicly promised a similar summit for
communities on this issue, and it’s high time she and her ministers stuck
to their word.
“Amber Rudd’s recent announcements signify a sea-change in wind energy
policy. It’s only fair that the Scottish Government should hear from
everyone affected, not just those who make their living developing windfarms.”
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms Sturgeon has condemned the demise of
turbine subsidies.
Critics of the technology claim it is economic nonsense, ugly on the
landscape and threatening to wreck Scotland’s lifeline tourism industry.
Leading Highland anti-windfarm campaigner Lyndsey Ward said: “I hope this
bid is successful and Fergus Ewing will finally listen to communities. He
hasn’t in the past, nor have other SNP politicians, who blindly support the
wind industry.
“As one, they speak for an over subsidised sector, using the developers’
own data, to the detriment of their own constituents.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We’re always ready to listen
to a broad range of views. We will contact Scotland Against Spin shortly to
engage with community and campaign groups.
“We’ve made it clear that windfarms can only be built in the right places.”
He added: “Scottish planning policy strikes a careful balance between
utilising Scotland’s significant renewable energy resources whilst
protecting our finest scenic landscapes, natural heritage and residential
amenity.”
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