Salmond pushes £22m wind-power expansion

Published on Tuesday 29 July 2008 22:58

ALEX Salmond yesterday said the past ten days were the most exciting in the history of renewables in Scotland, as he gave the go-ahead for a major wind farm to expand.

Another nine turbines will be built alongside the 77 already given approval at the Crystal Rig wind farm, near Dunbar in East Lothian.

The First Minister announced the extension during a visit to Natural Power, the company behind the project.

The extra 27MW capacity provided by the 22 million extension could power more than 13,000 homes.

Mr Salmond said the move "completes the most exciting ten days in the history of renewables in Scotland."

Last week, he said that the largest wind farm in Europe would be built in Scotland.

The 548MW Clyde project in South Lanarkshire is double the size of the largest wind farm in Europe outside Scotland. A 45MW biomass plant was also granted permission at the Tullis Russell papermill site in Markinch, Fife, ten days ago.