This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cruach Mhor windfarm opened
06/07/2004
The 30MW Cruach Mhor windfarm near Glen Darvel in Cowal
was officially opened today.
Deputy Enterprise Minister Lewis Macdonald said that the
Argyll windfarm was helping to bring 'green jobs' into the
wider community.
The Vestas factory at Machrihanish, which now employs
more than 200 people, has supplied the wind turbines for
the new ScottishPower development.
Later in the day, the Minister visited local
regeneration projects and announced £130,000 additional
Leader+ European funding for rural development in the West
Highlands.
Mr Macdonald said:
"Argyll and Bute set a great example - not just of new
renewable energy capacity but also as a demonstration of
what we mean by 'green jobs'.
"The Vestas factory in Kintyre is going from strength to
strength because of contracts like the one for
ScottishPower at Cruach Mhor. Around 80 per cent of the
jobs at Machrihanish have been filled by returning local
people, bringing them and their key skills back to the
area.
"Wind power is hugely important, but it is certainly not
the only way of meeting our target of 40 per cent
electricity from renewables by 2020. We are pushing ahead
with plans to speed up the development of marine, biomass
and hydrogen technologies to ensure there is a wide range
of renewable sources.
"Renewable energy contributes to more diverse and secure
energy supplies, offers huge potential for manufacturing
jobs and helps us tackle climate change."
Visiting the Sandbank Community Development Trust
project north of Dunoon, Mr Macdonald said:
"This initiative, supported by West Highland Leader+
Kist (WHELK) funding, is protecting and developing an area
of coastline threatened by erosion. Effective community
action is enhancing the natural environment here and
addressing local needs.
"I am confident the extra funding I am announcing today
for the WHELK programme will assist rural communities in
the area to improve and sustain their quality of life."
Cruach Mhor windfarm consists of 35 wind turbines
located on the ridge to the east of Glendaruel in Cowal,
Argyll. It became operational in spring 2004 and produces
enough energy to power 17,000 homes.
Executive action on renewables includes: providing £2
million for the Marine Energy Test Centre (opening next
month); the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables
Initiative - supporting 135 local projects across Scotland;
and setting up the Forum for Renewable Energy Development
in Scotland (FREDS) to push ahead work on new
technologies.
The Executive launched a consultation paper, Towards a
Green Jobs Strategy - Opportunities for Business, last
month. This is focused on realising the huge opportunities
for Scotland in renewable energy, recycling and waste
management, and resource efficiency.
Leader+ is one of four European Community Initiatives
operating between 2000-2006. Mr Macdonald also visited the
Bullwood Regeneration Project - funded by the European
Social Fund - which provides training and work experience
for disabled men and women in the Cowal area.