THE NORTH LOWTHER ENERGY INITIATIVE A renewable energy and habitat improvement proposal THE NORTH LOWTHER ENERGY INITIATIVE A renewable energy and habitat improvement proposal If the project proceeds, the economic, Buccleuch and Forsa Energy are environmental and community benefits together looking at the potential could transform the wider area. This would create the platform for landscape-scale for a significant renewable habitat management in the wider area. energy and habitat improvement proposal in the Lowther Hills At present, much of the landscape in between Sanquhar and the area does not fulfil its potential as a Wanlockhead in Dumfries natural resource. Much of the peatland is damaged, and although a large and Galloway. area is designated a European Special Protection Area for a number of threatened bird species, numbers still remain low. The proposal is being developed by the North Lowther Energy Initiative Ltd (NLEI), a With this proposal there is the opportunity joint venture between Buccleuch and Forsa to build on the experience of habitat Energy and currently comprises 30 wind restoration gained through the Langholm turbines with up to an installed capacity of Moor Demonstration Project in order 147 megawatts (MW). to regenerate a natural resource which can deliver benefits for both the local community and the natural heritage. the turbines remains unchanged at 149m The development of any windfarm proposal but with advancements in technology is a lengthy process which involves a number delivering turbines with superior generating of formal and informal stages – designed capacities, this has allowed the proposed to give a wide range of stakeholders capacity of NLEI to be retained at 147 MW. the opportunity to understand what is being proposed and to give people If the revised application is successful, the project the chance to make their views known. is committed to providing community benefit to the local area in line with the recommended As this development is greater than 50 rate of £5,000 per MW. Depending on the final MW, the proposal will be decided at a operational capacity of the site, it is estimated national level by Scottish Ministers under the that this will generate up to £735,000 per Electricity Act (known as a S36 application). annum for local communities – more than £18 million over the lifetime of the development. With the Environmental Impact Assessment phase having been completed, the Planning The Environmental Impact Assessment phase is Application was submitted in June 2017 a comprehensive review of the potential impact for a scheme consisting of 35 wind turbines of the development with information being up to a tip height of just under 150m. provided by various specialists in disciplines such as ornithologists, ecologists, geotechnical In spring 2018 an updated application experts, archaeologists, hyrologists and was submitted, reducing the number of landscape architects. This list is not exhaustive turrbines to 30. The removal of the turbines and the findings of their work, along with has sought to address concerns raised by feedback from consultees, has been taken into consultees regarding visibility from the account to modify the proposed scheme and Mennock Pass. The maximum tip height of avoid impact where this can be achieved. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The team embarked on a process of consultation with the local communities before finalising the layout for the project. To support this process, the project team have hosted several public consultation events, including ones in Wanlockhead, Sanquhar and Crawfordjohn. Engaging with local communities in this way gives the team the chance to share plans and seek the views and opinions of local people, as well as answer any questions. PROJECT BENEFITS proceed. Community benefit will be paid at If successful, the scheme has the potential a rate of £5,000 per megawatt per annum, to deliver widespread benefit on a social, so for the current proposal this would equate economic and environmental scale. to up to £735,000 per year to be spent Should it progress, the development would locally. Buccleuch and Forsa Energy are keen be capable of generating up to 147 MW of that these funds are administered locally. electricity (based on the current layout). Plus a total of over 100 jobs for the construction We continue to welcome input to our project period will be created, with opportunities to support long-term operational jobs on proposals and would encourage you to visit completion. the website www.northlowther.co.uk to find There would also be substantial community out more, sign up for further news and to benefit available should the proposal make your views known. www.northlowther.co.uk PRINTED IN 2018.