Blueprint to make Scotland a wind farm winner

Public consultation on reports showing how offshore wind farm manufacturing sites in Scotland could create 5,000 jobs and generate £300 million has opened.


People are being invited to have their say on the Stage Two report of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) and the accompanying Environmental Report and four Appendices.

The reports, published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise agency and Scottish Enterprise, outline how total private and public investment of £223 million would allow for the creation of 11 offshore wind manufacturing sites in three regional clusters in Scotland.

Key sites identified in Stage One of N-RIP are Nigg, Ardersier, Campbeltown/Machrihanish, Arnish and Kishorn.

These would make be hubs for the making of offshore wind farm components and use Scottish subsea expertise.

Together, they could create up to 5,180 jobs and generate up to £294.5 million each year.

The report also calls for a £185 million Fossil Fuel Levy to be released by the UK Treasury to boost renewable energy development in Scotland.

The documents are part of a bid to understand Scotland’s potential to become a major player in the expanding offshore renewable energy market.

To read the reports go to the Highlands and Islands Enterprise website and the Scottish Enterprise site.

They can also be read at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Cowan House, Inverness Business and Retail Park, Inverness IV2 7GF and Scottish Enterprise, 99 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HD.

Responses to the reports can be e-mailed to nrip@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or sent to The Scottish Government, EA Team, and 2H South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ by November 10 2010.

For more information or for a copy of the documents email nrip@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or call 0131 244 7650

David Gibbs

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