Renewable energy may harm the environment

Renewable energy may harm the environment

Documents released under Freedom of Information legislation have revealed that environmental advisers at Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) raised concerns in a briefing paper to the Scottish Executive about the potential damage that an "unplanned proliferation" of wind farms may cause to the environment. As a result the Executive has ordered a review of planning guidelines.

Bill Band, national strategy officer at SNH, stated: "We are concerned about the market-led approach on the location of wind farms. We have over 500 proposals for them around Scotland and in some areas it is a bit of a guddle with small ones alongside larger ones."

Fury at wind farms finally fuels a review (Scotland on Sunday, 24 April 2005)