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Local residents in Stornoway are being invited to discuss plans over two proposed wind farms in the Western Isles.
Lewis Wind Power, a joint venture between EDF Energy Renewables and Wood, have opened a new office on Cromwell Street Quay for people to drop-in and discuss the Uisenis and Stornoway wind projects.
The developer said the size of the proposed projects is critical in making the financial case for an interconnector cable from the Western Isles to the Scottish mainland.
"Substantial development of wind farms on the island can only happen if the electricity can be easily exported to the National Grid. The development will unlock significant community benefits in payments, ownership and jobs," Lewis Wind Power said.
The developer believes that 2018 will be a critical year for the two projects and hopes the projects will be given the green light to compete in auctions for low carbon electricity in early 2019.
The new office's opening follows the appointment of champion mountain biker Kerry MacPhee to look after community liaison for the projects. She will be joined by stakeholder relations manager David Morrison at the office from 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
Mark Vyvyan-Robinson, Lewis Wind Power director, said: "We want to make it easy for people to find out what is going on with the projects and I am delighted that Kerry has taken the community liaison role. She understands and cares about the Western Isles and it’s great that she has been able to come back to work with us.
"Lewis Wind Power has a big responsibility in 2018 to make sure that these projects can win contracts against other renewables projects across the UK. We will also firm up plans for community ownership with the Council and Stornoway Trust.
"Investment in the interconnector can only be triggered by our projects, which have planning consent and a grid connection. The interconnector would mean there would be scope for more community projects on the Western Isles.
"It would also unlock the potential for up to 600 jobs at the peak of construction and up to £400 million of economic benefit over the lifetime of the planned and future developments."
(LM)
