Planning minister says law will be changed so companies do not have to directly notify people about gas drilling in their areas http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/18/fracking-allowed-homes-without-owners-knowledge-gas-drilling
A new study shows that in spite of updated designs, U.S. wind turbines are killing hundreds of thousands of birds annually—a number that may balloon to about 1.4 million per year by 2030, when the ongoing industry expansion being encouraged Read more
Renewable energy developer RES has announced its intention to appeal against Argyll and Bute Council’s refusal for Freasdail Wind Farm. http://wind.energy-business-review.com/news/res-to-appeal-against-argyll-and-bute-councils-decision-to-reject-freasdail-wind-farm-191213-4148789
A £95,000 Scottish Government loan to a controversial Bute wind turbine scheme is set to be written off after the project failed to receive planning permission. http://www.buteman.co.uk/news/local-headlines/anger-as-bute-wind-farm-loan-set-to-be-written-off-1-3239131
New proposals for a substantial wind farm on the south Cowal peninsula, directly north of Rothesay Bay, have been published. http://www.buteman.co.uk/news/local-headlines/turbines-up-to-145m-tall-could-be-built-opposite-rothesay-bay-1-3239150
Plans to build a wind turbine on the iconic Farne Islands lighthouse that was once the home of Grace Darling have been abandoned. http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/local/all-news/wind-turbine-plan-at-lighthouse-is-shelved-1-3237642
As winter sets in across Europe, UK newspapers are reporting that utility companies in Britain are forecasting power blackouts as their reliable capacity drops while rising carbon taxes and subsidies for wind farms make utilities operations unprofitable and the grid Read more
Scotland’s Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing and the leaders of Scotland’s three islands councils, have today announced plans to convene a summit following what has been described as a missed opportunity by the UK Government. http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Summit-planned-to-secure-islands-energy-future-780.aspx