Campaign groups merge in mission to challenge large energy projects
TWO PROMINENT anti-wind farm groups in Shetland are to join forces.
Sustainable Shetland and Save Shetland agreed to unite under one name at the former’s recent AGM in June.
The merger brings together two groups who say their common aim will be to question the ongoing plans to industrialise Shetland, and to challenge developers to minimise the scale of proposed projects.
They also said they would look to hold all those who make decisions on their behalf to account.
Upcoming plans include a survey to every household to gauge and record current opinion, they added.
Sustainable Shetland was formed in 2008 in response to plans to build the Viking Energy wind farm in Shetland, raised by fears that the project would open the door for more multinational energy companies to industrialise the isles.
It launched an eventually unsuccessful legal challenge against the Scottish Government’s decision to grant planning permission to the wind farm in 2012.
Before Sustainable Shetland’s AGM last month, long-standing chairman Frank Hay – who has spent 12 years in the role – had announced his intention to stand down.
The committee acknowledged his “invaluable contribution to the group” and thanked him for his leadership through some challenging times.
Hay will remain on the Sustainable Shetland committee, with Rosemary Macklin of Sustainable Shetland to take over as chairperson.
Alison Johnston, from Save Shetland, is the new vice-chairperson.
Sustainable Shetland said that, as a united group, they would continue to raise awareness of environmental issues and the ongoing debate regarding the impacts of turbine emissions, such as infrasound, on human health.
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