Windfarm Debate - Part 872
Posted: Monday, 01 November 2004 |
Comments
The Isle of Gigha is brought before us again by blog blog. This community owned island proves itself and its ability to face up to the probelms of island life, in these difficult times.
These are days when we hear a lot about renewable energy especially in view of the problem of climate change etc. The people of Gigha have taken the initative and not only are they facing up to such problems but doing the community much benefit. Not only have they acquired a community - owned wind farm, but have also an award, although the system is not up and running yet...but soon it will be with great hopes for the future as the island is ressutated into abundant life again.
This indeed is a feather in the cap for the people of Gigha and an example for the rest of us in the bloging islands, if we are to be faced with a
serious decline in our way of life and depopulation.
Blog blog keep us in touch with the progress of Gigha we find in her our great chance for the future too,
IW.
Island Wanderer from from Tiree
More than any other wind farm Gigha's comes with emotional baggage. Any electricity produced is merely a by product of the spin, it's whole point is to win prizes and column inches.
Nic from Coll
The one thing Gigha seems to have done is to capture the market in publicity for being the first community owned wind farm in Scotland, without actually doing so! A venture similar to Gigha Renewable Energy Ltd, based in Orkney and called Orkney Renewable Energy Ltd claimed the first community owned project in Orkney in November 2004 with the completion of a 850 kW turbine on the island of Burray, in the Orkney Isles. Unlike Gigha, the Orkney community has pulled together to wholly fund the project, without needing grant assistence from the public sector. They also managed to raise enough to erect a brand new 850 kW machine, vs the 3 x 225 kW second hand machines on Gigha.
Community ownership is no doubt the best model for wind development throughout Scotland, and several ways in doing this exist, both using public sector money as on Gigha and community investment as in Orkney.
Andrew from Stromness, Orkney
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