Better future for all

Following the judge’s decision to support the planning permission for the Viking Energy windfarm (SN 9/7/14, ‘Court rules in Viking Energy’s favour’) and reject Sustainable Shetland’s arguments, we are nearly ready to open a new chapter in Shetland economy and a better future for all of us.

A cable linking the islands to the National Grid will allow Viking Energy, the Energy Isles project in Yell and Unst and other projects to go ahead.

There is strong support for a cable from the Scottish and UK governments as both see the huge potential for Shetland and the rest of the country.

A cable linking the islands to the National Grid will bring substantial funds to the whole community and open up a whole new industry for Shetland – new jobs and skills that can be promoted worldwide. The income from Viking Energy will revive the depleted charitable trust funds, giving it the opportunity to support new business developments and jobs, just as the oil

One thing, however, could delay these opportunities – and maybe even threaten the charitable trust’s investment in the wind farm – and that is yet another legal action by Sustainable Shetland to the Supreme Court.

But if the charitable trust has to pull out because of yet further legal delays that doesn’t stop the wind farm. A commercial company will take over its shares and Shetland will have lost influence and control over the wind farm and lost millions of pounds a year to help the community. Instead that money will all go out of the islands.

We would ask Sustainable Shetland supporters to consider very seriously why they are opposing a cable linking the islands to the National Grid. If you know any supporters of Sustainable Shetland asked them why they want to stop the Energy Isles project in Yell and Unst and the possible tidal energy bridge linking them. Why are they stopping the potential of a renewable energy industry?

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On behalf of the Windfarm Supporters Group

Chris Bunyan, Harry Jamieson, Tony Erwood, Laughton Johnston, Cavy Johnson, Alistair and Kate Christie-Henry, Kenny Johnson, Bruce Benson, Linda & Pete Glanville, Veda Tait, Kaila Mcculloch, Richard and Victoria Gibson, Mariane Tarrant, John Dally, Fred Gibson, Andrina Tulloch, Bruce McCulloch, Will John Anderson, and Jim Dickson.