I am writing to object to the MachairWind Offshore Wind Farm.
I am Islay born and raised from a multi-generational Islay family. I also have 35 years’ experience as an executive and non-executive director in the global energy sector , including leadership of the Northern European Gas Power & renewables Business for a Major Energy Firm. As such I believe I have a decent understanding of both the cultural and micro economic factors on Islay, and of global energy supply economics.
Does Scotland need to produce more wind power. No.
Over- production of wind energy in Scotland to transmit to unspecified other markets is neither green nor economic. It is hard to get facts as there are so many special interest groups. That said, it is undisputed that it is better for the environment and costs to use energy as close as possible to the site of production.
If north of England or Wales or European continent need greater wind in their energy mix they should produce it there. There is huge energy loss in transmission as well as the CO2 in cabling and concrete. So reducing the size of the ”farm” is not the issue. It is not needed on the west coast of Scotland.
Transmission costs and CO2 use in transmission are rarely/ever factored into such consultations. Instead we are told ” that's down to SSE or national grid”. The total CO2 and cost picture (i.e. production plus transmission plus ultimate decommissioning and replacement costs) should be shown BEFORE approvals. Anything else is pure economic and environmental conjecture. And it is irreversible.
There is clearly a need for a mix of energy sources in the UK. The unreliability and limited storage options of wind power, especially offshore, means that you get the nonsense of £1billion (2026 year to date) of OUR tax and bill paying money being used to pay for the turbines to be switched off, and the fossil fuel reliable alternatives being inefficiently ramped up and down.
Community benefit funds are a green smoke screen. They are simply taking money out of our pockets in the form of bills or taxes and then giving us a minuscule amount of it back and expecting thanks.
Scottish Power is not Scottish. They are merely a sub brand of a huge multibillion dollar Spanish conglomerate, Iberdrola. The UK has allowed French ( EDF) and Spanish (Scottish Power) and others to enter our liberalised energy market without getting reciprocal access rights at the time of markets opening.
The beneficiaries of this supposed environmental gift of a scheme are not Scotland's people or birds or marine life or tourist industry or fishing industries – the benefits will flow to wealthy shareholders of Iberdrola. They are pillaging Scotland through our naïve Scottish government.
People come to Scotland to live and invest and holiday for many reasons. One reason is definitely NOT to admire an industrial landscape of pylons and seascape of turbines and flashing artificial lights. There are very few places in the western world where nature is truly unspoiled. The west coast of Scotland is one of them. People pay expensive and unreliable ferry fares to get here. The islands rely on tourism based on the natural beauty. Most importantly the environment needs to be protected and cherished. Our bird life will suffer in the skies. Our ocean beds will be irreversibly destroyed.
The oft promised local economic benefits have failed to materialise in other such schemes and will not offset even a fraction of the jobs lost in tourism and the lowered footfall for the already challenged whisky industry.
Scotgov and UK Gov should insist on greater research and investment by our universities and these rich market entrants into wholly predictable and less visually and environmentally invasive renewable sources such as tidal power. A clear strategy is needed to get Tidal up to economic viability , rather than forcing through offshore wind. Again with the common sense proviso that energy is produced and used as locally as possible. Likewise a push for reduced energy usage , creative storage options and hydrogen would be money better spent.
Scotgov must stop overriding local objections. These objections are well researched and well founded and fully engage the local communities. Those making decisions in Holyrood are almost always not well educated in energy supply economics and the total carbon value chain impact. Rather they are wedded to an unfounded idealism about wind power being good and green and exportable without recognising the transmission inefficiency in both carbon and cost.
Jenni Minto must support her local communities and stand WITH the community councils and National Trust for Scotland and others who are objecting to this scheme That's why we pay her wages and her travel expenses and her accommodation in Edinburgh. To represent us. Not to blindly salute a Holyrood flag. I am hopeful she will agree and will be sending her a copy of my letter. I'd encourage others to do likewise.
Thank you to ‘Hebridean horizons ‘ and other groups for standing up for Scotland's best financial and environmental interests. This scheme is not needed off the west coast of Scotland. Do the environment and our bills a favour and place energy production close to the energy demand.
Fiona A MacLeod