Campaigners call for Aberdeenshire Council to reject Hill of Fare windfarm

Campaigners who oppose the Hill of Fare windfarm project say there has been misinformation surrounding it.

The Hill of Fare Windfarm Information Group is asking Aberdeenshire Council to oppose the plans so a public inquiry can be called.

The group has raised multiple concerns surrounding the proposed development, which it says would see offshore-scale turbines 180-200m high installed on the hill.

HoFWIG campaigner and local resident, Alan Chesterman, says aside from the scale of the turbines themselves, there are many ways that this proposed windfarm will not directly benefit the local community that have not been made clear by the developer:

He said: “Existing windfarms produce more power than Scotland can use, the excess is exported to England.

"The fact is, power from Hill of Fare and other new windfarms will increase transmission to southern England, a process with its own challenges due to limitation of the existing grid system and necessitating extensive new pylon infrastructure over hundreds of miles.

"And because power from Hill of Fare won’t decarbonise Scottish electricity, the environmental impact of building on peatland will increase carbon emissions.

"The facts have not been clearly conveyed to the local communities that will be impacted.”

“We are calling on people to continue to lobby their councillors to object to the proposal.

"They can also submit their own objections directly to the Energy Consents Unit (ECU).

"To date, 1500 written objections to the Hill of Fare windfarm have been lodged to the ECU and six community councils stand against the development.

"We entreat our councillors to listen the local communities and the professional experts and oppose this windfarm."

A spokesperson for RES - the firm behind the plans - said: “Hill of Fare Wind Farm is located in an area identified by Aberdeenshire Council as having ‘potential for wind farm development’ and has been carefully designed following extensive survey work and community consultation.

"The turbines proposed are typical onshore turbines - comparable in height to other consented projects across the country, including within Aberdeenshire, and the 16-turbine scheme would be capable of reducing the equivalent of 69,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year – whilst achieving carbon payback within 3 years of operation.

“We are in a climate emergency, cost of living crisis and seeking to enhance the security of our energy supply.

"Onshore wind can address all of these challenges as recognised in the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4.

"If consented, the 105.6MW Hill of Fare project would make an important contribution to Scotland’s drive to achieve 20GW of installed onshore wind capacity across Scotland by 2030 and legally binding 2045 net zero carbon emissions target.

“The project is also predicted to deliver a £150 million boost for the local economy through inward investment and economic activity linked to construction, operations and maintenance as well as community benefit – including the opportunity of an annual discount to the electricity bills of surrounding homes and businesses – making the project not only beneficial for the environment but also for the consumer.”