28 August 2008 11:56
E.ON launches Auchencorth wind farm appeal

E.ON has announced that it is appealing against the refusal of Midlothian Council to grant planning permission for a wind farm of up to 45MW at Auchencorth Moss.

The initial planning application for the construction of 18 wind turbines on the site south of Penicuik was submitted in January 2006 and refused in February earlier this year.

Darren Cuming, E.ON's onshore origination manager said: "We were disappointed in the decision made by Midlothian Council as we believe that Auchencorth Moss is the ideal location for the wind farm and a fantastic opportunity to help tackle the global threat of climate change.

"We have carried out a series of independent reviews following the council's comments including a further detailed environmental assessment of the site. We are now satisfied that our proposal will comply with Scottish Government and Local Plan policy, with minimal impact on the environment and the local population."

The proposed scheme would provide enough clean, green energy to power up to 24, 000 homes, which is over 60% of homes in Midlothian, and save over 43,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

If approval is granted by Midlothian Council, the area could expect to see a £5 million investment into the local and regional economies. The project would also contribute toward the Scottish Government's strategy to generate 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

The appeal is expected to go to a public inquiry with the outcome announced towards the end of next year.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company. We employ around 17,000 people in the UK;
• E.ON Climate & Renewables is E.ON's global renewables business responsible for large scale renewable generation and carbon sourcing projects - excluding large hydro;
• E.ON Climate & Renewables will be investing €6 billion Euros to 2010 on a range of renewable generation technologies and climate protection projects;
• E.ON is one of the leading green generators in the UK, with 21 wind farms located from Cornwall to Northern Ireland. We also burn biomass material mixed with coal in two of our power stations and have recently completed one of the UK's largest dedicated biomass power stations at Lockerbie. Combined, our renewable portfolio generates enough green energy to power the homes in a city the size of Manchester;
• Our green development portfolio could power over a million homes and displace the emission of almost two million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by building new onshore and offshore wind farms, biomass power stations, and tidal stream and wave power schemes;
• Our target is to cut the carbon released by each kW of electricity we generate by 10% between 2005-2012, having already reduced it by 20% since 1990.

For further information contact:

Rebecca Mara on 024 7618 3679

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