Ground-breaking day for £300m wind farm

Construction today started on what will be Europe’s largest onshore wind farm, as the government set out proposals outlined in the Energy Review to see a five-fold increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources in the

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Performing the official ground-breaking ceremony for Scottish Power’s £300m Whitelee Windfarm, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Alistair Darling said:

‘Within three years, 140 turbines will rise above Eaglesham Moor, harnessing enough wind energy to power 200,000 homes.

‘Scotland has long been the UK’s powerhouse and is now establishing itself in the vanguard on renewables. Sixteen per cent of Scotland’s electricity already comes from these sources, compared to four per cent for the UK as a whole, and Whitelee will save a further 250,000 tonnes of harmful CO2 every year.’

ScottishPower Chief Executive, Philip Bowman added: ‘As Europe’s largest onshore wind farm, Whitelee represents a great step forward for the UK in tackling climate change, and is crucial to meeting the government’s targets for green energy.