Comhairle calls on UK Government to build energy cable 18/11/10
Following an announcement by Scottish and Southern that they will not proceed with plans to link Windfarms in the islands to the mainland grid, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has called on the UK Government to invest strategically in the Western Isles interconnector.
The Comhairle are also considering taking the matter to Europe on the grounds of discrimination.
Leader of the Comhairle, Cllr Angus Campbell, said: “Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is profoundly disappointed, angry and frustrated with the delay in construction of the Western Isles Interconnector.
“ The Comhairle has warned repeatedly and has made the made the point repeatedly that the present regulatory system was discriminatory and unless there were changes to the regulatory approach that the rich renewables resources in the Scottish islands would effectively be sterilised.
“The Comhairle warned repeatedly that this point would be reached unless a more pragmatic approach was put in place by the regulators.
“It is a massive policy failure from OFGEM and the UK Government that what was obvious to all others was not obvious to them.”
Mr Cambpell added: “If the UK and Scottish Governments are to reach their renewables targets to reduce the nation's carbon footprint and to improve the security of our domestic electricity supply, then the massive resources around the Western Isles are required.
“Tapping that resource is clearly in the national interest and to require private developers to underwrite the entire cost of the necessary network upgrades is simply wrong.”
He asked: “Why does the Western Isles link require under-
“We call on the UK Government to step in and invest strategically in the Western Isles Interconnector, obviating underwriting and securing the significant economic benefits that Renewable Energy will bring to these islands.
“We urge the UK Government to instruct OFGEM to authorise strategic investment in the link to secure the Interconnector for 2013 as planned.
“If the Western Isles interconnector does not proceed it will represent one the greatest renewable energy policy failings in recent times and will leave the UK Government’s green aspirations in tatters.”