Green Cat Renewables appeal decision to reject ‘Gleneagles Hotel’ wind farm – Scottish Energy News

A Scottish renewable energy developer is to appeal against the decision by
a local council to reject its application to build a wind farm ‘near’
Gleneagles Hotel.

More than 400 people and organisations – including the five-star hotel, had
called for the scheme to be scrapped, arguing that it could hurt tourism
and have a negative visual impact.

Green Cat Renewables, based in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, wants to build a
nine-turbine project at Greenacres, near Braco in Perthshire.

The power company has lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government and
Director Gavin Catto said he hopes that the Government Reporter will look
at the application ‘objectively and apply the council’s policies in the
correct manner.’

He explained: “The need to develop renewable energy to fight climate change
has never been greater, with the switch to the use of electric cars and
greater use of heat pumps for space heating, the demand for electricity is
set to soar, and this needs to come from clean sources.

“With subsidies having been removed for onshore wind, it is necessary to
site wind farms in areas with good wind resource, close proximity to the
grid, and using the most modern efficient turbines.

“In parallel, there is an increasing drive to protect Scotland’s precious
landscape, minimising the impact on protected landscapes and areas of ‘wild
land’.

“Finding viable projects that fit within these often conflicting
requirement is always a compromise, and we believe this site is a good
compromise with a level of impact that is acceptable for the benefit it
will create.”

The Strathallan Wind Farm project was originally submitted in 2007 as a
four-turbine plan, which was rejected by Perth and Kinross Council in March
2009. A new, nine-turbine plan was submitted in August 2015, and the
council once again refused the application earlier this month.