The Crystal Rig windfarm near Dunbar is to be extended by a capacity great enough to power more than 13,000 homes, First Minister Alex Salmond announced yesterday.

The First Minister announced the £22 million investment during his visit to Natural Power, the Dumfries & Galloway based company, who develop and operate wind farm sites like Crystal Rig.

Speaking as he officially opened the new office space at the Natural Power's Headquarters, the First Minister said: "Scotland is already home to Natural Power's headquarters here in Dumfries and Galloway. This expansion to its office space will enable the creation of 50 new jobs, accommodating up to 85 staff, more than double the current workforce, and further expand the company's operations - a real boost to the local economy.

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"Natural Power is a growing, thriving company, with more than 14,000 MW of renewable energy projects on its books. It is an important contributor to Scotland's renewable energy sector and I am delighted to be able to announce a further expansion of the hugely significant Crystal Rig wind farm."

"The 27 MW Crystal Rig IIa extension to the East Lothian windfarm will include nine turbines and have the capacity to power 13,000 homes. Today's announcement completes the most exciting 10 days in the history of renewables in Scotland. It follows the consent also granted to the near 548 MW Clyde Project in South Lanarkshire and the 45 MW RWE npower Cogen Biomass Plant to be situated at Tullis Russell papermill site in Markinch. And Natural Power has today marked consent of 2000 MW to renewable energy production," he added.

These developments help prove the Scottish economy's resilience in challenging times and show that it is virtually certain that Scotland will now meet its target to generate 31 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2011.

(GK/JM)