Plans submitted for 75-turbine wind farm

Community Windpower has submitted plans for a wind farm that RJ McLeod is lined up to build.The company said that Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm will see £1.8bn of economic investment that will be felt throughout the regional economy, including jobs and community benefits.It is the third Community Windpower renewable energy project in southern Scotland. The project has drawn support from businesses across the region, including Grange Quarry & Concrete, AMD Contract Services and RJ McLeod.The scheme itself consists of 75 turbines producing 525MW of electricity, and will be capable of powering 572,000 homes and offsetting 931,000 tonnes of CO2 every year during its 40-year operational lifetime.Energy storage facilities will be built within the wind farm, ensuring energy is stored away during low demand and enabling it to supply a more consistent level of power.The project would also allow for the development of a visitor centre and walk. The visitor centre will be subject to a separate planning application and wider consultation.