Community Windpower has issued a new video detailing the recent planning submission of Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm near Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway to the Energy Consents Unit.
The video has been produced to help residents and communities understand the main elements of the planning application.
Due to the government restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, Community Windpower isn’t able to attend any meetings with communities or residents, which it would normally do, but the video has been designed to answer many questions that have arisen around the wind farm application.
Senior projects manager at Community Windpower, Steve Milburn, who is leading the project, said: “We produced a video to replace the public exhibitions cancelled in April due to Covid-19 and we wanted to do something similar now the application has been submitted, in light of continued restrictions due to the virus.
“We’re providing as many options for the public to view information on the proposal as possible, while adhering to Government guidelines.
“This video is part of our continued dialogue with local people from all communities during these unprecedented times.”
Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm, which is located entirely in Dumfries & Galloway, will see £1.8 billion of economic investment which will be felt throughout the regional economy, including jobs and community benefits, and support for the Green Recovery.
It is the third Community Windpower renewable energy project in southern Scotland and would see the business invest a total of £4.05 billion and provide enough clean, green energy to power 1.25 million homes.
Steve added: “Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm will provide huge economic and social benefits to Dumfries and Galloway, both during construction and the 40-year operational lifetime.
“However, the benefits of this project are not just limited to directly supporting jobs during the post-Covid Green Recovery, it will also stimulate wider economic growth across the region and deliver 40 years of inward investment.
“Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm will contribute a total of £262.4m in business rates to Dumfries & Galloway Council. This money can support the provision of vital local services and facilities, in turn helping to improve education, employment and socio economics for the local authority area.
“It also provides an opportunity for the region to become a global leader in green energy projects, which will help kick-start the economy and fuel clean growth.
“Additionally, the opportunity to build a visitor centre for Scoop Hill will further provide significant long-term benefits, including jobs, education facilities, tourism and space to support people’s health and mental wellbeing.
“Energy storage facilities will be built within the wind farm, ensuring energy is stored during low demand and provide a more consistent level of power is supplied throughout its 40-year operational lifetime.
“Scoop Hill will directly support Scotland’s Climate Emergency Declaration (CED 2019), significantly helping achieve the ambitious targets of net zero carbon by 2045.
“The project would also allow for the development of a visitor centre and multi-use wind farm walk, that could generate increased tourism and inward investment, benefitting both the local community and the wider Dumfries & Galloway area. The visitor centre concept however would be subject to a separate planning application and wider consultation.”
The video is available here https://youtu.be/zQ4T9m_5OpY, and is also available via the wind farm’s dedicated website www.scoophillwindfarm.co.uk.
