3,600-name petition says no to wind farm

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 19:02

PROTESTERS campaigning against proposals to site Europe's biggest community wind farm in the heart of the Shetland mainland presented councillors with a petition bearing more than 3,600 signatures yesterday.

Viking Energy, a consortium formed by Shetland Islands Council and Scottish and Southern Energy to build the 150-turbine wind farm, formally lodged an application in May to develop the scheme, which, it is said, will produce enough power to supply 20 per cent of Scotland's domestic energy needs.

The turbines will be spread across 252 hectares of moorland. Viking Energy says the project will generate 37 million a year in revenues and create hundreds of jobs.

But opponents say devastation will be wreaked on a pristine, fragile landscape. Billy Fox, chairman of campaign group Sustainable Shetland, said the petition showed the level of opposition among local people.