MSP to hold public meeting over Inch Cape – Red Rock plan for wind-energy site at Cockenzie power station – SEN

Cockenzie power station site and location of electricity substation for
Inch Cape Red Rock development in red

A Tory MSP has arranged a public meeting in East Lothian following the SNP
government’s controversial decision to ‘call in’ a planning application
from a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned company to build a large wind
farm substation on the site of the old Cockenzie power station in the region.

The substation plans have been lodged by Inch Cape Offshore Limited, which
is owned by Red Rock – a subsidiary of China’s State Development and
Investment Corporation – critics of the plan pointed out that the
announcement of the decision to call in the application came as Scottish
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was in China to promote business links.

Sturgeon and Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse also formally opened
the Chinese giant corporation’s new office in Edinburgh recently.

If approved, the proposed new substation would bring electricity ashore
from Inch Cape’s planned wind farm off the east coast of Angus. This
development was stalled for years before the British supreme court last
year upheld a decision by the Scot-Govt against an appeal by the RSPB in
favour of a similar such development by another overseas developer.

That developer – Ireland’s Mainstream Power – is now set for a huge
financial windfall without building a single turbine as it plans to cashes
on on the increased value of the site now that it has planning permission
along with a life-time state-guarantee – paid by Scottish taxpayers in the
form of a renewable subsidy – to a rival developer.

Official Scot-Govt (planning) policy provides for a presumption in favour
of granting wind farm applications at both local and national government level.

But the Inch Cape/ Red Rock plan has been dismissed as a “giant shed” by
Prestonpans Community Council as it will be controlled remotely and not
provide local employment. Instead, the community council wants to instead
see a cruise port created at the site.

Now in reaction to the decision, Michelle Ballantyne, Tory MSP for Southern
Scotland, has arranged a public meeting to discuss the plans.

This will be held in nearby Prestonpans toon hall later this week. She
said: “Every one is welcome to come along and voice their opinions on the
plans and the future of the site.