Renewables chief invites Donald Trump to invest in wind power

Mr Trump has been campaigning against the creation of an 11-turbine offshore wind farm near his golf resort near Balmedie, north of Aberdeen.

An application for the development was submitted to Marine Scotland last summer and a decision is expected to be made later this year and Mr Trump has halted work on his resort until a decision is made by the Scottish Government.

He is scheduled to appear before Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on April 25 as part of its inquiry into whether the Scottish Government’s renewable energy targets are achievable.

Mr Trump has previously described wind turbines as “ugly monstrosities” and “horrendous machines” that could destroy tourism in the country.

Despite his obvious opposition to wind power, Scottish Renewables chief executive Niall Stuart has written to the American businessman inviting him to invest in the industry.

He said: “Despite the attacks from the Trump Organisation on wind power generally, we are very confident about the future for our industry, both at home and abroad.

“Indeed, we would very much like to invite you and your colleagues to meet with some of our members and to consider the opportunity of investing in and being part of the success of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, which is now key part of our energy mix and an increasingly important part of our economy.

“I look forward to your reply.”

In the letter Mr Stuart addressed some of the tycoon’s criticisms.

He said: “The people of Scotland and the UK do not oppose wind power, with a number of polls showing a large majority favouring the continuing growth of the sector as we change the way we generate electricity in order to tackle climate change emissions from coal and gas generation.

“There is no evidence that wind farms are having an impact on tourist visitors to Scotland, and indeed renewable energy sites across Scotland are becoming tourist attractions in their own right.

“For example, Whitelee Wind Farm, the largest onshore site in Europe, attracts three times as many visitors each year as the Scott Monument in Edinburgh.”

Mr Stuart added that jobs will continue to be created by the renewable industry which has the potential to “regenerate and re-energise local economies across Scotland”.

Mr Trump launched an attack on First Minister Alex Salmond last month, and said he risks becoming known as “Mad Alex - the man who destroyed Scotland” if the wind farm plans are approved.

He urged the SNP chief to “be smart” and abandon wind power, adding: “History has shown that the world’s greatest leaders were the ones that were able to change their minds through knowledge. Be one of them!”

He said: “Remember what I said - if you pursue this craziness, Scotland will go broke and forever lose whatever chance you currently have of making Scotland independent.

“A bankrupt Scotland will always be reliant on others.”

Last month the Electoral Commission said it had no remit to investigate reports that the Trump Organisation is to fund advertising campaigns against council candidates who support wind turbines following a complaint by the Green Party.

It was reported that the organisation was backing campaign group Communities Against Turbines Scotland (Cats) to “make life uncomfortable for politicians, planners and wind power developers”.