Community Windpower has filed a planning application for the 75-turbine, 525MW Scoop Hill wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
The plans will see 22 turbines up to 250 metres high, which would be the tallest in Scotland, as well as two 225-metre machines, 47 at 200 metres and four at 180 metres.
Five turbines have been removed since scoping proposals, which suggested up to 80 machines with a 560MW generating capacity south east of Moffat.
The developer said that, if built, the scheme would see £1.8bn of economic investment.
Energy storage will also be included in the scheme while a multi-use wind farm walk and a visitor centre are also proposed, subject to a separate planning application.
The Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm Visitor Centre could generate increased tourism and inward investment, benefitting both the local community and the wider Dumfries and Galloway area, the developer said.
It would act as an educational centre to increase knowledge and awareness of the climate emergency, and how renewable energy projects can help tackle the crisis.
Statements of support have been filed in favour of the development from Grange Quarry and Concrete, AMD Contract Services and RJ McLeod, who directly employ hundreds of people to work on the construction phase of onshore wind farms and many more indirectly in the supply chain.
Community Windpower community liaison officer Stuart Walker said: “The benefits of this project are not just limited to directly supporting jobs during the post-Covid Green Recovery, it will also stimulate wider economic growth across the region and deliver 40 years of inward investment.”
He added that it would contribute £262.4m in business rates and the visitor centre, which will be run as a not-for-profit venture, could provide further benefits, including “jobs, education facilities, tourism and space to support people’s health and mental well-being”.
Community Windpower said £20m of community benefits would go directly into the local area over the 40-year life of the scheme.
An RJ McLeod spokesperson said it believed the project would “allow companies like ourselves, and the local supply chain, maintain or increase employee numbers in southern Scotland, and the wider Scottish area”.
“Renewable energy projects such as this, allow companies to maintain and increase employment levels and provide real jobs, training, and thus an economic benefit at a local level in areas which are often short of external investment and stimulus.
“A project the size of Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm has the potential to provide a very significant boost to the economy of the south of Scotland, and Scotland as a whole; this is particularly the case during the construction period, not only in direct jobs but also in terms of the extensive and valuable supply chain of sub-contracted goods and services.” https://renews.biz/64425/cwp-seeks-approval-for-525mw-scottish-wind-giant/
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