Beauly-Denny Planning Decision Due: UPDATE
The most controversial project for Scotland’s energy infrastructure is due to be approved today by Holyrood even after receiving over 18,000 objections. We explored both sides of the argument over a couple of posts in the last two months. You can see these here:
The scheme, as we ventured in our previous posts, has divided environmentalists and green energy advocates, but is clearly needed to help meet renewable energy targets. Many politicians have lambasted Holyrood’s decision to delay the motion and for the lack of open discussion surrounding the key issues.
The Liberal Democrat energy spokesman, Liam McArthur, MSP said: “The uncertainty and confusion this has created has been unhelpful and unnecessary. It is long past time now for Mr Salmond and his ministers to come clean on the Beauly to Denny upgrade. It is also obvious to everyone that this sort of process, which satisfied no-one, must not be allowed to happen again.”
Labour’s energy spokesman, Lewis Macdonald, said: “The SNP ministers have dithered on this application for far too long. MSPs heard from the developers that building the power lines would be put back a year if work did not start last summer. Ministers paid no attention to that warning either. Thanks to these delays, this grid connection is unlikely to be ready before 2013.”
Jim Mather is due to make the announcement on the controversial decision today. He said: “The Beauly-Denny upgrade and other planned improvements would allow a massive increase in renewable electricity by connecting generation from wind, wave and tidal power in the north of Scotland to consumers here in the Central Belt and beyond.”
Given the heated debate surrounding the issue, we still maintain this pylon upgrade is inevitable and notwithstanding the environmental impact, will allow the UK to reach its full renewable potential.
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- Jan 14, 2010: Greener Power
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The Beauly Denny Power Line has officially been approved by Jim Mather, Energy Minister for Scotland.
John Mayhew, director of the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS), said that it was “the most disappointing planning decision in Scotland for many years”.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser added: “All we are left with today is a fog of confusion.”
What are your thoughts?
A good idea or one that we’ll regret?