Trump not allowed to join court battle against 370-MW Scottish wind farm

Dec 4, 2013 - The Court of Session on Tuesday made it clear that property tycoon Donald Trump would not be joining in court the opponents of Viking Energy's 370-MW onshore wind project in Shetland Islands, Scotland.

The business magnate wanted to take part in the hearing in 2014 that is to decide the faith of the 103-turbine wind project in Shetland. However, Lord Justice Clerk Lord Carloway yesterday rejected Trump’s request. Lord Carloway did not allow the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), French utility EDF (EPA:EDF) and German energy group RWE AG (ETR:RWE) to join the suit either.

The Viking project was proposed by Viking Energy, a 50/50 joint venture of Viking Energy Shetland LLP and utility SSE Plc (LON:SSE). One of its most passionate opponents -- local organisation Sustainable Shetland, achieved a big win in September when Judge Lady Clark at Scotland’s Court of Session ruled out that the Scottish government did not follow its obligations under a European bird directive when it gave approval to the wind farm. Also, the judge pointed out that developer Viking Energy did not have a power generation licence.

The Scottish government’ appeal against Judge Lady Clark’s decisions will be heard by three judges in the Inner House of the Court of Session in February or March.

On a related matter, Trump is already leading a battle against the 100-MW European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay. He seeks to have the Scottish government's approval for the project overturned. His lawyers are alleging that First Minister Alex Salmond was pushing for the wind farm to be greenlighted. Donald Trump is opposing the development as it will be located close to his planned GBP-750-million (USD 1.23bn/EUR 905m) golf resort in the area. He is threatening to scrap that huge project if the wind farm goes ahead.

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