Our Press Release - 27th March 2024

Communities B4 Power Companies (CB4PC) has learned through Freedom of Information Requests that the Scottish government has not refused any SSE or SSEN planning applications in the last fifteen years.

The only slight blip for SSE was when Glencassley wind farm was refused but approved when re-jigged and re-named Achany Extension.

Both multinationals have a 100% approval record by the Scottish Government.

No grid connection for wind developments have been refused either – no matter how far or what landscape it goes through. Bizarrely these connections are not considered at the time of the development they will serve nor will the emissions or costs be added to the emissions and costs of the wind turbines they are connected to, making wind power conveniently appear cleaner and cheaper than it really is.

SSEN is currently proposing nation changing infrastructure to connect more wind turbines to the grid. The cost is billions of pounds and the emissions and costs for this are also kept separate from the wind turbines it is expected to encourage.

Spokeswoman for CB4PC, Lyndsey Ward says:

‘Now the general public have been made aware that SSEN and their parent company SSE appear to have rubber stamps with their names on it in the Scottish Government they will be horrified.

It certainly explains why communities have come to expect these particular multinationals to get approval for their proposals even if they have been refused by the local authority. SSE has had thousands of objections to its proposals over the years and their wind turbines have been shockingly sited in some of the most breathtaking areas of rural Scotland. SSEN has had less planning applications to date but they can now expect a tsunami of opposition to its recently announced concrete and steel road show and multiple salami sliced planning applications. It is demoralising and stressful from the very start for communities to face an industrial project for profit by these particular energy giants in their own area – more so than any other developer because of the seemingly ‘preferential’ treatment of their planning applications by the Scottish government.

People often feel, and have been told so by SSEN staff at public consultations, that there is no point objecting, it is a ‘done deal’ and that the Scottish ministers back them.

Now this apparent guaranteed approval is public knowledge maybe, just maybe, the Scottish Government will actually change course and heed public opinion instead of helping to boost the wealth of shareholders in these global investment companies at the expense of the UK wide consumer, electorate and the environment.’

*****************************************ENDS**************************************

Attached relevant FOIs

For more information please contact:

Lyndsey Ward

Email: cb4pc.press@btinternet.com

Telephone: 07899 035 135

27th March 2024