Letters / Community buy-ins likely to encourage further industrialisation

It was quite unbelievable to learn that certain community councils are exploring the possibility of community buy-ins with wind developers, having also expressed their keenness to the Shetland Islands Council in this regard.

Community councils exploring a stake in proposed Mossy Hill wind farm

Seeking a financial interest in wind farms does not fall within the remit of community council’s and will only serve to add to the bitterness and division in communities already created by the developments.

The Mossy Hill (amended) application has not even been approved, so apart from anything else, it is somewhat defeatist of local community councils to have already entered discussions with Statkraft.

Any partnership will carry with it responsibilities and complicity in whatever the developers do. The proposed Mossy Hill development will be close to a mussel farm and nearby Sandy Loch, our main water supply.

Given that Viking Energy’s environmental mitigation measures have proved ineffective regarding our watercourses, there is no guarantee that Statkraft can prevent the same failures from taking place, which could prove disastrous.  We are already aware of Statkraft’s poor record regarding environmental and human rights issues.

A community buy-in will be an endorsement of the wind farms and will most probably encourage further industrialisation to our islands.  Community councils, please think again.

Alison Johnston
Sandwick