By Peter John Meiklem
Action to tackle Scotland’s climate emergency could see the return of a
controversial Tayside windfarm plan.
Backers of the fiercely-opposed development at Govals Farm, close to the
A90, have said they still consider the site “in most regards, ideal.”
The Scottish Parliament passed a bill earlier this week committing to a
carbon emissions cut to net-zero by 2045.
Farmer David Cooper and his agent Green Cat Renewables sparked a furious
row in 2013 when they overturned an earlier Angus Council decision to
refuse permission for the “industrial size” windfarm through an appeal to
the Scottish Government.
Local people and campaigners thought the scheme was dead after the
developers were unable to agree an essential plan with the Ministry of
Defence to protect radar at RAF Leuchars in Fife.
Although the permission for the development expires next month, and no
solution to the radar issue has yet been found, a spokesman for Green Cat
Renewables said they had not given up.
He said: “We believe the site at Govals is in most regards an ideal wind
farm site. It has not been possible to build out the project at this point
due to not being able to agree technical mitigation to the potential impact
on the RAF’s radar at Leuchars.
“The current consent runs out shortly but we do not rule out applying for a
new consent in the future if technical advances in radar mitigation make
this possible or if the MoD’s position in safeguarding Leuchars changes.
“Climate change is not going to go away and the need for action is greater
than ever.”
Onshore wind has become less commercially attractive after the UK
Government ended its subsidy scheme in favour of less-established renewable
technologies.
Scotland’s first subsidy-free onshore windfarm should be operational by
2020 and a recent report from industry group RenewableUK warned more
onshore wind is needed to meet the new carbon reduction targets.
Mr Cooper has submitted a separate application for a range of sustainable
energy sources on his farm.
Anti-windfarm campaigners had interpreted the application for solar panels,
a ground source heat pump and a biomass boiler as tacit acknowledgement the
windfarm plan had been abandoned – a claim denied by Mr Cooper’s agent.
One campaigner, who contested the original windfarm, said: “I am certain
residents will warmly welcome Mr Cooper’s new renewable energy plans which
will service his farm.
“The proposal for an industrial size wind farm was a ghastly mistake not
supported by the community. It would undoubtedly have blighted the landscape.”
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