Scottish Natural Heritage attacks 47-turbine SSE wind plan

Dec 2, 2013 - Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is urging UK utility SSE Plc (LON:SSE) to cut by at least seven the number of turbines at the proposed 47-turbine Strathy South wind project in Scotland.

In a statement on Friday the Scottish public body said it was still objecting to the project and requested more information on the scheme in order to evaluate its potential impact on internationally important blanket bog habitat and bird species. “This further information may highlight the need for more turbines to be removed from the proposal,” SNH said.

The organisation is fighting the project as it fears that if built, the wind farm would have negative effect on bird species such as the hen harrier, red-throated diver, golden eagle and greenshank. It is demanding that seven turbines be removed due to likely impact on black throated diver and wood sandpiper.

In July this year, SSE reduced to 47 from 77 the number of turbines of the Strathy South wind park, which was initially planned to have a capacity of 177 MW. According to the company, the revised scheme, has a better design that lowers its environmental impact. However, SNH is not the only organisation against the development. In a statement at the end of October wildlife protection charity RSPB Scotland said it hoped that SSE would abandon the project or that the government will “quickly” reject it. It said the Strathy South wind project was “one of the most worrying it has ever seen”.

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