Gibson Welcomes Gordonbush go-ahead

News release
Immediate release

09/04/08

Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has welcomed the announcement that Gordonbush wind farm has been given the go-ahead. The development will produce 87.5 megawatts of power - enough to power 35,000 homes.

Mr Gibson said,

"The approval for the development for Gordonbush is great news. The size of the wind farm is sensibly scaled to the area in which it is situated. It is also reassuring to see that special conditions (such as development of a habitat managing plan to minimize the affect on local bird life) have been stipulated so that the development does not adversely affect the environment in which it will sit."

"The commitment to community benefit will be a real boon to the area as well. 35,000 homeowners will benefit from clean and sustainable energy whilst the communities around the development will benefit financially."

"Gordonbush could be a model for other areas in the north on how to develop sensibly, sited and to scale wind farms."

Mr Gibson welcomed the step change in output from the development which is situated wholly in Sutherland. He pointed out that the Gordonbush development would produce an extra 40MW more than the nearest wind development in Sutherland. He said that increased production would lead to increased profit from the site which would lead increases in community benefit as well as making a strong contribution on the fight against climate change.

ENDS