Friday, November 04, 2011
£18m South Lanarkshire wind farm gets green light
A local council has given Blantyre Muir Energy permission to
install a further three 377ft wind turbines on a 323-acre site in
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. This will bring the total number of
turbines on the site to six, collectively providing electricity to
5,500 homes.
Once completed, the development will also supply businesses at
Hamilton Technology Park through a joint working initiative between
South Lanarkshire Council's planning service, Balntyre Muir Energy
and the park's owners. This will help the park meet its renewable
energy targets.
When the first three turbines were being considered for planning
in 2007, the Planning Service became aware that one of the units at
the Technology Park needed a source of green energy. All three
parties worked closely to reach agreement on the 25% power plan.
This innovative approach has picked up again with the current
proposal, so much so, that up to 100% of the power generated by
these three turbines could be harnessed by the Park.
The £18m wind farm extension will also be a major boost for the
local economy, with local construction firms alone set to pick up
£6m from the installation work.
Blantyre Muir Energy's parent company is the UK's leading
independent onshore wind developer, West Coast Energy. Steve Salt,
Planning and Development Office at the firm, is positive: "We have
worked closely with the council to achieve this decision and we
look forward to delivering the economic, social and environmental
benefits of this green energy development."
FInd out more about the
Blantyre Muir wind farm.
