Giant turbines in South Ayrshire village would power Irvine pharmaceutical giant's factory

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A bid to install two 150m high wind turbines less than a mile outside Dundonald has split opinion in the village.The matter was raised at Dundonald Community Council last week, with one resident making an impassioned speech arguing that South Ayrshire Council will be considering a plan that delivers power to North Ayrshire – more specifically the nearby GSK.But another resident said that the turbines would be more likely to get the green light and that the community should focus on getting the best community benefit it can.He pointed out the Scottish Government recommended guidance for such a community benefit would be £5,000 per mW installed.The Farm Energy Company are yet to make any detailed proposal, but estimate the fund to be around £21,300 annually.One resident argued against the the 150m turbines being installed so close to the village.She said the the company had been ‘disingenuous’ during the consultation last month, suggesting that their survey focused on ‘gathering views on alternative forms of power’.She continued: “This is a commercial venture.

I asked whether the turbines would run at night.“They said that these turbines are ‘a bit quieter’ and that they would be run at night.“My feelings are quite strong and I don’t think it is right that we should have a commercial entity entering, we are becoming an industrial park.”She added that there was no clarity on the community fund.“I asked how that would be managed, whether it would be index linked or even guaranteed.

They couldn’t say.“Just look at the wind farms at Straiton or Ardrossan. Is that what we really want for our community?“I appreciate that we need alternative sources of power.