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.
Representatives of 11 community councils in Berwickshire and East Lothian attended a meeting to discuss how their areas are affected by wind farms. http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/local/all-news/councils-discuss-affect-of-wind-farms-1-3230038
In the name of social cohesion and engineering sanity, the next decade must see no more coal plant closures until replacement base load capacity is in place Sir, If and when the UK next experiences large-scale rolling electricity brown-outs, last seen in the 1970s, the public inquisition on any consequential Read more
THE Scottish Government is being urged for national guidance on how much wind farm developers should pay in community benefits (“Guidance call over wind farm benefit for residents”, The Herald December 11). The current payment of almost £7m is likely to treble by 2017 and could be closer to £50m Read more
By Jane Candlish Furious objectors have claimed multimillion-pound plans for new 152ft power pylons would be “disastrous” for a Highland beauty spot. Energy giant SSE wants to build a 15-mile line from south of Inverness to Tomatin to harness electricity generated by ever-increasing number of windfarms in the area and Read more
A new energy crisis is inevitable unless controversial plans to ignite coal seams off the Fife coast are explored. http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/oil-baron-algy-cluff-claims-forth-ucg-energy-scheme-will-save-britain-from-darkness-1.163992
Coal plants already running in the UK won’t be put under stricter emissions rules in future. http://www.energylivenews.com/2013/12/12/lords-vote-against-tougher-coal-plants-rule-in-uk/
The UK’s proposal was to allow biofuels to count double. If it had gone through, the 2020 goal for 20% of energy to be sourced from renewable sources would have effectively been reduced to 19.6%. http://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1224708/eu-blocks-uks-2020-downgrade-attempt
In the last 13 years an astonishing 2,428 wind power projects have been given the green light from planners in Northern Ireland, leaving some of our most beautiful landscapes crowded with wind turbines. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/wind-farms-map-reveals-how-theyve-swarmed-across-northern-ireland-in-13-years-29831716.html