Biggest wind farm gets go-ahead and will be able to power 280,000 homes

Biggest wind farm gets go-ahead and will be able to power 280,000 homes

EBEN HARRELL

• Biggest wind farm in Europe to be built on moorland site near Glasgow
• Landmark site will generate two percent of country's energy needs
• Opponents claim it damages views and disrupts natural environment

Key quote
"Whitelee is the largest single onshore wind farm to be consented in Europe and is a significant milestone towards achieving our renewable energy and climate change targets. We are strongly committed to the continued development of a diverse renewable energy portfolio in this country." - ALLAN WILSON, DEPUTY ENTERPRISE MINISTER

Story in full THE biggest onshore wind farm in Europe is to be built on a vast stretch of moorland near Glasgow and will open by the end of the decade, the Executive announced yesterday.

Ministers consented to the 140-turbine farm, to be built on high ground to the south of East Kilbride. The farm will have a maximum output of 322Mw. That is enough, the Executive claimed, to power nearly every house in Glasgow - or 280,000 homes.

When completed in 2009, it will be able to satisfy more than 2 per cent of Scotland's yearly electricity needs.

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