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.
Councils lose right to set distance limit on wind farms: New guidelines mean councils cannot designate ‘buffer zones’ between properties and turbines http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381076/Councils-lose-right-set-distance-limit-wind-farms-New-guidelines-mean-councils-designate-buffer-zones-properties-turbines.html
By Emma Hughes One of Scotland’s most romantic castles could be blighted by a huge wind-farm development. Last month, an application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council by Windy Edge Wind Farm Limited for 17 398ft-high wind turbines, which would stand beside Hermitage Castle in Roxburghshire. The 400-year-old Scheduled Monument, Read more
By Jane Candlish – P&J A public inquiry into a proposed Highland windfarm is expected to take place in October. Wind Energy (Glenmorie) wants to build 34 turbines and 20 miles of access tracks in the hills between Ardross and Ardgay. The public inquiry was triggered after Highland councillors agreed Read more
Rog Wood Farming correspondent THERE has been a dramatic increase in the number of solar PV (photovoltaic) developers looking for large PV farm sites – or solar array sites – in Scotland. Thomas McMillan, renewable energy specialist with land agent Smiths Gore, reports: “We have seen more solar PV developer Read more
Siemens, Europe’s largest engineering company, has lost patience with its CEO after Peter Loescher’s expansion into green energy and expensive acquisitions led to a fifth profit-forecast cut. Supervisory board officials have asked for the 55-year-old Austrian native to be ousted. http://www.thegwpf.org/green-energy-disaster-sinks-siemens-ceo/
A new survey devised by Heriot-Watt MSc student Ebenezer Ashie seeks to understand what the motivations have been for those that already own wind turbines in the county and those that want to consider owning one. He is also keen to find out from people the reasons why they would Read more
Swingeing green stealth levies on energy bills are ‘perverse’ and should be scrapped, MPs warn today. A major report says the taxes are hitting poorer families hardest. MPs also call for middle-class pensioners to lose their winter fuel allowance, with the savings redirected to help low-income households insulate their homes. Read more
A lack of transparency about energy company profits is undermining trust in the energy market and Ofgem is not taking all the action necessary to tackle the issue and restore consumer confidence, MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee have warned in a new report. They want to see Read more