Wind farm approved

A proposed wind farm comprising of twenty wind energy turbines has received approval from the government of Scotland. The planned location for the wind energy project is Argyll and Bute.

The electricity that will be produced from the Carraig Gheal wind farm close to Kilchrenan on the east side of Oban could be enough to meet the requirements of approximately thirty two thousand households as well as several business premises in the locality.

The firm behind the wind energy scheme, Green Power Ltd had at first made an application to set up twenty four wind energy turbines but only twenty have been approved. This was attributed to concerns that twenty four wind energy turbines would compromise the safety of the bird population in the area and that they would be a blot on the landscape.

The government of Scotland has also put conditions on the project which include the settting up of a bird monitoring programme aimed at the protection of the birds in the area. This bird monitoring programme has to get the approval of the Scottish Natural Heritage as well as the Argyll and Bute Council.

Approval for the project was made by John Swinney the Finance Minister since there would have been a conflict of interest if it had been made by Jim Mather who would have been the rightful person to make decision only that the project was located in his constituency. The Finance Minister expressed confidence that the Carraig Gheal wind farm would contribute considerable amounts of power for consumption in Argyll and Bute.

www.greenpower.co.uk