News Elsewhere contains mainly articles we have permission to republish from Views of Scotland and Country Guardian. You can learn more about these organisations by visiting: http://www.countryguardian.net/ and http://www.viewsofscotland.org/. Occasionally we will also post news from elsewhere on the web.
Controversial plans for a nine-turbine wind farm near Penicuik have been resubmitted for assessment by Midlothian Council. http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/battle-lines-drawn-over-midlothian-wind-farm-1-3284296
FEARS that plans for a 14-turbine wind farm on the Ben Wyvis range above Garve have “sneaked in under the radar” has prompted objectors to urge others to speak up against it before a deadline next week. http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/News/Turbine-Alley-jibe-at-new-wind-farm-plan-31012014.htm
I was surprised to discover that the application for two additional wind turbines at Felkington Farm was listed for the planning meeting on 7 January. http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/letters/difficult-questions-for-council-planners-1-3284538
The Scottish Government’s obsession with wind turbines looks set to bunker our most iconic golf courses. Objections from Gleneagles Golf Resort to the erection of six giant turbines in the Ochil Hills have been ignored, despite the fact that a global audience of millions will watch the Ryder Cup to Read more
Mark Williamson Group Business Correspondent The former chief executive of energy giant SSE has landed a top job with one of Scotland’s biggest oil services firms with a package thought to be worth £270,000 a year. Ian Marchant, who left SSE with a £10.5m pension pot that put him in Read more
OPINION: Good, viable onshore wind farm sites will be lost unless developers make sure that surveyors negotiating deals for them understand recent changes in renewable energy funding. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2014/january/renewables-rent-negotiations-must-take-account-of-funding-changes-or-more-sites-will-be-lost-says-expert/
Renewable energy firm RWE is to drop the Npower name from its UK brand as it brings its British operations into line with its European wind projects. http://www.energyvoice.com/2014/01/renewable-power-firm-rwe-switches-names-dropping-npower-brand/
Investments in renewable energy were supposed to be a sure thing, with wind park operators promising annual returns of up to 20 percent. More often than not, however, such pledges have been illusory — and many investors have lost their principal to boot. http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/wind-power-investments-in-germany-proving-riskier-than-thought-a-946367.html