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Island’s first solar energy farm plans are abandoned            3/11/11

Plans to build the Western Isles first solar energy farm have been abandoned it has emerged.

Gary Shepherd of NGN Telecoms obtained a 25-year in principle agreement with the Stornoway Trust to erect 25,000 solar panels covering 11 acres of the Arnish moor, three miles outside Stornoway.

Mr Shepherd, who is understood to have previously lives on Lewis and is also involved in a firm called Green Electric Energy Company Ltd, proposed to built the five megawatt energy scheme in a large 32-acre natural hollow in the moorland off the single track road on the approach to the Arnish yard.

The scheme received preliminary planning department approval to undertake a public consultation before lodging a formal planning application.

It is believed the public meeting scheduled for June was never held.

Mr Shepherd told island firms he had hired to undertake planning work: “The project has subsequently been cancelled due to delays and government cutbacks.”

Mr Shepherd has been out of contact this week.

Lewis architect Philip Mclean is £1,000 out of pocket after being unpaid for preparing plans.

The developer previously said the solar energy was earmarked to power the Arnish industrial estate and at the Creed business park.

The off-grid scheme was to directly supply its nearby industrial customers thus avoiding the lengthy delays in seeking a grid connection. 

The site was specifically chosen because it sits in a natural basin and is located away from any residual developments and not used for crofting.