Wind Farms - Protection?

How important wind has become, in the local news this week a proposed 50 turbine windfarm in  Yell , Energy Isles the firm behind the project. If you look at the directors you can see a few folk from Viking Energy, they say the usual things like we have home grown opportunity which can have a direct and positive effect on our local economy'. These will be 200m high

                                                                                                             Curlew


One new thing they are trying is now 37 companies have bought 10,000 Energy Isles shares in an effort to win some support.  

Another wind turbine which had been propose for Levenwick has scrapped plans as it failed to find funding, funding for another one at Laxo also failed to find funding on the same day.

                                                                                                           Golden Plover

Complaints were centred around the effect on the potential impact on birds, but although the RSPB had been consulted it did not object, this is not the first time they have decided not to put there weight behind an objection - you have to ask yourself what is their purpose !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad I left them years ago.

                                                                     Arctic Terns nesting on moorland

The propose 103 Viking Energy wind farm which will have turbines as tall as 145m,  awaits a decision in Spring 2019 as to whether they will receive subsidies to allow an interconnector to be established from the Scottish mainland to Shetland to allow the export of power.

                                                                                                     Meadow Pipit

If it gets the go ahead others will spring up in addition to the main project, a further 80+ are proposed in Yell , 17 already confirmed with Peel energy . Another 12 planned for Lerwick to Gulberwick to Scalloway with Peel energy.

Shetland will be destroyed all for a 25 year life span.

So you would think that a conservation body such as the RSPB would object.

RSPB Scotland has said it "strongly supports" wind farms, but in locations where turbines do not pose a risk to birds. 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36367044

                                                                                                Skylark

Look at this though https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/07/19/offshore-wind-farms-in-doubt-after-rspb-gets-planning-consent-qu/

The RSPB claimed that the projects, in the firths of Forth and Tay, would together result in the deaths of "thousands of gannets, puffins, kittiwakes and other seabirds from iconic internationally protected wildlife sites like the Bass Rock and the Isle of May" each year.

                                                                                                     Skylark

Now as far as I can see Shetland is one of the most important areas for Seabirds, we should see some results soon from the current Seabird Census. In addition, Shetland is a major site for migrating birds just how many birds will be lost to wind turbines, that's not counting the cost to our breeding birds such as Red Throated Diver, Whimbrel, Arctic Tern, Skylark or Curlew, for one I don't want to see any.

                                                                                                       Skylark

From the many tourists I have spoken to none wanted to see wind farms they see too many down south and want to come to Shetland to see one of the most unspoilt landscapes in the UK

Good news for nature

Although Viking Energy supports might not think so, i was pleased that the government announced this week that it was unsure whether non- mainland onshore wind farms projects should be entitled to receive subsidies.

Bidding for a share of the pot of money in April next year will not benefit the two Shetland wind farm projects, Viking and Beaw on Yell as they will be unable to participate. The time lag will also see the interconnector cost rise yet again making it a less viable project.

I have seen costs between £600- £750 Million to connect Shetland with the Scottish mainland(250km at a depth of 100m)

The North Atlantic Energy Network Report( January 2016) indicates that there was 49 failures in submarine cables between 1990 - 2005. These are impossible to repair during the winter months so its not straight forward even if they did get the funds.

I would like to see a Shetland, unspoiled, the last wilderness in the UK and where there is no conflict between wildlife and the environment. (please look back at my other blogs on this subject)

We should promote Shetland as a tourist attraction and having talked to a number of visitors that's what they would want to see as well. Even those unable to get to Shetland are saying they would like at least one area without ugly wind turbines spoiling the landscape.

Just as everyone was thinking autumn migration was over, news of a Rufus Turtle Dove came in. This is the third Shetland record and the second in the last twelve months.

                                                   Scalloway Dove

The bird arrived at North Roe garden in the north mainland, it was in poor condition and taken into care being released the following day.

While this was the major talking point there was still good numbers of Waxwings throughout Shetland, kept here by people putting out apples, so Tesco will have done well. Around 300 other birds are in Scotland at present and moving south.

A few Glaucous gulls have also arrived while a few common migrants are still around, Robin, Blackcap, Goldcrest , Brambling, Water rail, Jack Snipe and even a few Gt Tits -rare up here.

                                                                                               Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine and Merlin have been seen in the south mainland recently, but as yet no Rough Legged Buzzard

Blackbird, Fieldfare and Redwing are still present in good numbers throughout Shetland

There is still time to order a canvas for Christmas , see www.amazingshetland.co.uk for details