No Tiree Array Welcomes ScottishPower's Decision

No Tiree Array Welcomes ScottishPower’s Decision

No Tiree Array Welcomes ScottishPower's Decision

No Tiree Array, a campaigning group that opposes the development of the Argyll Array offshore wind farm, has issued the following press release regarding the latest news about the project:

Scottish Power has announced dropping development of their proposed TIREE (Argyll) Array.

The proposed TIREE (Argyll) Array was to be the largest offshore wind farm in Europe. NO TIREE ARRAY (NTA), was formed in 2010 to resist the development of this proposed offshore windfarm/array. Had the Tiree(Argyll) Array been developed, it would have been an environmental disaster for Tiree, and the West Coast of Scotland.

NTA welcomes Scottish Power’s announcement. NTA has been rigorous in the pursuit of its objective, maintaining robust and consistent lines of enquiry with Scottish Power/Scottish Government /Marine Scotland and SNH. NTA’s lines of enquiry have been vigorous in challenging every technical and environmental aspect of the proposed offshore windfarm.

The adoption of the proposed Tiree Array, by Scottish Government in Mar 2011, was based on a flawed process, and its development based on a flawed prospectus. The outcome for the Tiree (Argyll) Array follows very closely on the dropping of the Atlantic Array, and the announcement of a 2 year delay to Aberdeen’s EOWDC project.

This suggests Government’s ambitions are: (1) not in harmony with the disproportionate investment required, and (2) not fully cogniscant of the many complex technical issues still to be resolved, to deliver offshore wind.

Press release, December 13, 2013; Image: ScottishPower