Go Ahead For Gordonbush Wind Farm

9th April 2008

Ministers have approved the Gordonbush wind farm, near Brora in Sutherland, which will be capable of powering 37,000 homes.

The 87.5 Megawatt, 35 turbine wind farm will be subject to conditions to minimise any potential disturbance to local wildlife and to safeguard local interests.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is another milestone in our drive to harness Scotland's massive clean, low carbon energy potential.

"We already have the comparative advantage of a vast array of potentially cheap, renewable energy sources. And we have existing skills and resources to become the green energy capital of Europe, through investing in onshore and offshore wind, tidal, wave, biomass, and clean coal including carbon capture technology.

"This Government has now determined more than twice as many energy applications than in the last year of the previous administration - 11 determinations since May 2007, compared to four determinations in 2006/2007. And in addition, we have the commitment to ensure the conditions are right to invest with certainty in potentially planet
saving renewable and low carbon technology."

Energy Minister Jim Mather said: "We have always said we want the right projects in the right places. Gordonbush wind farm will come close to part of the Caithness and
Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area, and will be a good example of a sensitively scaled and sited wind farm operating in harmony with
the environment.

"As long as we rigorously assess and safeguard potential impacts on wildlife, there is absolutely no reason that wind farms cannot exist alongside local wildlife."

Conditions attached to the approval include: * A legal agreement to stipulate the use of the site in relation to community benefit, crofting interests and transport and access
requirements;
* Prior to construction starting, a Habitat Management Plan covering
5,500 hectares designed to minimise impacts on birds will be agreed and implemented;

* An Ornithological Steering Group must be convened prior to work starting to undertake monitoring of breeding birds;

* Research on the golden plover population must be carried out in conjunction with SNH and RSPB;

* Construction close to the vicinity of the previously recorded bird activity will be phased to avoid the breeding season.* Before construction begins a Construction Method Statement, Pollution Prevention Plan and Road Traffic Survey designed to safeguard environmental and community interests will be approved by Highland
Council.

ENERGY STATISTICS
Any proposal to construct, extend or operate an onshore wind farm in Scotland with a generation capacity in excess of 50 Megawatts (MW) requires the consent of Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

The Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit is currently processing 37 renewable project applications - 28 wind farm and nine hydro projects. Current renewable applications to Ministers amount to 4 Gigawatts, which, in line with processes for environmental assessment, public consultation and where appropriate public local inquiry, are all at various stages of the consents process and still to be determined.

One Gigawatt of renewable capacity is under construction.

The Energy Consents Unit has also provided pre-application scoping opinions for a further 2 Gigawatts of potential renewable development.

To give a scale of the potential energy quantities involved, 7 Gigawatts is well over twice the current installed renewables capacity of 2.75 Gigawatts and would be more than enough to power all of Scotland's homes. Installed nuclear capacity in Scotland is 2.4 Gigawatts.

Eleven energy projects have now been determined by this Scottish Government. This includes consent for Scotland's second largest wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, and Scotland's third largest wind farm in Perthshire.

In Scotland between 2005 and 2006:

* Electricity generated by renewable sources (apart from hydro natural flow) increased by 46 per cent

* In 2006, Scotland could have supplied 92.5 per cent of its electricity needs from non-nuclear sources

* As a result of unplanned outages, nuclear's share of generation fell from 38 per cent to 26 per cent in Scotland.

* Continuation of the rate of growth in these other renewables would result in achievement of the Scottish Government's renewable electricity targets of 31 per cent of electricity demand by 2011 and 50 per cent by 2020

In June 2003, SSE applied for consent to construct and operate a wind farm comprising 35 turbines, with a maximum installed capacity of 87.5 MW.

The application has been subject to wide ranging consultation. Following this, Highland Council, SNH and SEPA have supported the proposal subject to conditions being applied.

Further relevant information on the application can be viewed at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consen
ts

Caithness.org wind farm pages at
http://www.caithness.org/windfarms/index.htm