Stornoway Trust gets seat on subsea cable forum 20/4/14
The Stornoway Trust has been given a place on a forum established to speed up national grid connections with the mainland.
Building a subsea cable across the Minch to export windfarm energy links to southern markets is a top priority says the Scottish Government.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing secured an agreement last month with UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey, to convene a Delivery Forum to progress new high voltage grid links from the islands.
Last week, finance minister John Swinney met with the Stornoway Trust and invited the community landlord a seat on the forum.
The Stornoway Trust have been looking at harnessing renewable energy on the estate for many years, but issues relating to the delivery of the vital grid links remain unresolved.
The forum -
Mr Swinney said: “The Stornoway Trust offered a valuable insight into the transformational impact that renewable energy could have on the Western Isles.
“It is a key reason why this Government is committed to doing all that we can to support these projects and why we remain determined that they can be delivered.
“I have asked my officials to ensure that the Stornoway Trust are invited to attend the pending Delivery Forum which Fergus Ewing and Ed Davey have agreed to take forward, so that the compelling potential advantages of community ownership and benefits can be fully accounted for as we work towards a successful outcome."