MINISTERS were warned last night that they will fail to meet their own green-energy targets if they reject plans to build Europe's biggest on-shore wind farm on Lewis.
The Scottish Government is expected to throw out plans for 176 giant turbines on the Hebridean island, a proposal which would provide a massive boost to the SNP's drive for a green- energy Scotland. Ministers have written to the developer, Lewis Wind
Power (LWP), to say the plan will be rejected in the coming weeks unless it can come up with compelling new reasons for its approval.
The move yesterday delighted anti-wind-farm campaigners, but infuriated environmentalists who believe such big developments need to be agreed if the country is to meet its targets on renewable energy.
Patrick Harvie, a Green MSP, said: "There are strong feelings on both sides about this particular project, but as long as local authorities have no requirement to include renewable-energy projects in their local plans, the risk is that Scotland will fail to meet even ministers' limited targets for clean energy."
John Quigley, the Scottish regional secretary for the trade union Unite, added: "If this proposed wind farm is refused permission, the government's energy policy will descend into complete shambles."
He said: "Alex Salmond has made clear his opposition to new nuclear power stations, but now it looks like government ministers will reject plans to build one of Europe's most significant renewable-energy projects."
The Lewis project has attracted 9,500 objections, most from residents appalled at the idea of so many giant turbines stretching across the peat moorland. Some of the moorland that would be affected are Special Protection Areas – environmentally sensitive areas, home to birds and other wildlife.
It is understood that ministers were concerned the environment would suffer if the development went ahead and have asked LWP to come up with new legal arguments to support the application or redraw the plans.
However, the development has also proved to be attractive for environmentalists because of its potential to alter the balance of electricity production in Scotland, away from traditional fossil-fuel sources to renewables.
The Scottish Government wants the country to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 – a huge task considering only 5 per cent of Scotland's electricity comes from non-hydro renewables at the moment.
The Lewis project is so big that it has the potential to meet 11 per cent of the electricity requirement on its own.
Ministers have been caught between their determination to increase renewable-electricity generation and by the strong objections of local communities that do not want wind farms. The Nationalists also won the Western Isles at a Scottish Parliament election for the first time last May, a victory which might well be reversed if the Scottish Government endorsed the wind-farm scheme.
However, a Scottish Government source insisted last night that the renewable-energy target could easily be met, even if the Lewis project was turned down. He said: "Even if half of current wind applications were not approved, we would still be on course to meet 50 per cent of Scotland's electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020, with a significant amount from onshore and offshore wind."
A spokesman for the Scottish Government stressed last night that no decision had been taken on the wind farm. He admitted that the developers had been sent a letter setting out the ways in which the proposal would have an impact on the local environment, but he insisted: "No final decision has been taken by ministers."
Yesterday, John Price, project director of the Lewis wind farm, said:
"We are disappointed, but it's good that we can now enter into this period of consultation. We believe that the arguments need to be hammered home."
• The Scottish Government yesterday gave the go-ahead for a major increase in the production capacity of a wind farm near Fetteresso in Aberdeenshire, allowing it to produce power for an additional 13,000 homes.
Wildlife bodies say key sites can be protected in battle against climate changeOPPONENTS of the Lewis wind farm last night insisted Scotland could meet its energy demands without having to resort to such large developments on environmentally sensitive land.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust unveiled a blueprint for the country's energy use in 2025, which prioritises offshore wind turbines.
And RSPB Scotland said it believed Scotland could "meet its renewable energy targets several times over without having to compromise our most important wildlife sites".
SWT came up with the plan, seen by The Scotsman, after opposing the island development because of its siting on sensitive peatland.
Jonny Hughes, Head of Policy at the trust, said: "SWT was keen to develop a robust policy position which offered a balance between the urgent need to tackle climate change on the one hand, and the imperative to protect nature and the wider environment for future generations on the other. We think this balance is achievable in Scotland."
The trust is calling on the Scottish Government to set up an energy efficiency agency which would help reduce electricity used by households.
It says that before the sources of energy can be altered, the use of power by households needs to be reduced, a proposal backed by Jim Mather, minister for enterprise and energy.
The policy proposes government incentives to encourage a shift towards less wasteful appliances and an overhaul of transport. This would include moving from roads to rail and decreasing the number of miles travelled each year by people and goods.
The trust has given its backing to the St Fergus plant, near Peterhead, which generates natural gas, but is against nuclear power.
And although it is in favour of offshore windfarms – which can contribute to marine life by effectively acting as a reef – it is concerned about land developments and wants "habitat enhancement measures" to be a planning prerequisite.
Even offshore developments should be subjected to stringent assessments for potential impacts on marine life.
A spokesman for RSPB Scotland said: "Offshore wind turbines could be a way forward, but even with onshore wind there are plenty of potential sites to be considered and we are working with developers to find these sites that won't damage some of our environmentally designated sites, important for national heritage."
Lindsay McIntosh THE PLAN BY N NUMBERSTHE wind-farm development on Lewis would include:
• 176 turbines – each one with a tip height of 140 metres on a tower 86.5 metres tall
• 88 miles of roads will be constructed
• 8 electrical substations
• 19 miles of overhead cables
• 137 pylons each 27 metres high
• 18.3 miles of underground cables
• 9 turbines would be required to meet the electricity needs of the Outer Hebrides
• 176 turbines could generate enough electricity to supply the annual domestic needs of Glasgow
• 120mph is the top wind speed recorded on Lewis
• 4mph is the speed at which the blades will begin turning
• 20mph is the speed at which the blades reach their maximum energy generation
• At 50mph or more the turbines would be switched off to prevent damage
• 3 seconds is the length of time it takes one blade to rotate 360 degrees
