Up to 250 construction jobs are expected to be created by the building of a new wind farm in the south west of Scotland.

It is thought the Kilgallioch Wind Farm in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire could provide energy to power over 130,000 homes.

It is expected to have 96 turbines and a generating capacity of up to 288MW.

The developers are to pay into a fund to support local environmental and energy related projects, as well as fund the employment of two Countryside Rangers for the promotion, payment and management of the Southern Upland Way over the 25 years the wind farm is operational.


Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "In consenting the application, I have put a number of conditions in place to protect the local wildlife and environment and recognise that measures have been taken to mitigate the impact of the development."

Developers Scottish Power Renewables applied for consent to operate the Kilgallioch wind farm on 16 March 2010.

The original application proposed 132 turbines, but was reduced to 96 turbines to reduce the impact.

The Scottish government has now determined 78 energy applications since May 2007.

55 of these have been consents for renewable developments, amounting to 31 onshore wind, 1 offshore wind, 19 hydro, 4 wave and tidal and 17 non-renewable projects since May 2007.

The government has rejected 6 energy applications since May 2007, all of which were onshore wind farms.

Another 46 applications are being considered.

(IT)