North Lowther Energy Initiative Environment. Community. Sustainable - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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North Lowther Energy Initiative Environment. Community. Sustainable - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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North Lowther Energy Initiative Environment. Community. Sustainable Power. Presentation to Wanlockhead Village Council Introduction Headline (Arial Bold 36pt) 2020 Renewables and Buccleuch have formed a joint venture to assess the

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North Lowther Energy Initiative

  • Environment. Community. Sustainable Power.

Presentation to Wanlockhead Village Council

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Headline (Arial Bold 36pt)

Introduction

  • 2020 Renewables and Buccleuch have formed a joint venture to

assess the potential to create a significant renewable energy and habitat restoration project in the North Lowther Hills.

  • Buccleuch represents the business interests of the Buccleuch
  • family. Today, the organisation is a diverse enterprise focused on

all aspects of appropriate land use.

  • 2020 Renewables is a prominent renewables energy company

based in Greenock, which has been developing energy projects since 1990. Current projects are in feasibility, scoping, planning, construction and operation.

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  • 2020 and Buccleuch are working with partners

including Scottish Government, Scottish Mines Restoration Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Hargreaves Services on the restoration of the Glemuckloch Open Cast coalmine.

  • That project has been a great collaborative success.

Benefits include:

– 60 local jobs saved. – The lifespan of the mine extended, generating £12 million in wages for local workers.

  • Community turbine scheme with pupils from Sanquhar

Academy administering more than £2m revenue from the turbines for community projects.

  • An eight turbine windfarm adjacent to the community

windfarm scheme and the open cast mine site will deliver direct community benefit of £3.2million in total if planning permission is granted.

The story so far…

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  • Together, these initiatives will deliver between £17 and £18 million direct and indirect

benefit to local communities; taking into account jobs, wages and contractor work.

  • The proposed eight turbines would power more than 16,000 homes and

deliver on Scotland’s renewable energy targets.

  • Hargreaves, 2020 and Buccleuch hope to develop a pump storage hydro scheme at the

site that would create six full time jobs in addition to the existing construction jobs. It would also act as an anchor for energy supply in the region.

The story so far…

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  • A 55-acre former open cast coal site.
  • Restored at a cost of £1million.
  • Created a unique landscape art project designed by Charles Jencks.
  • Expected to attract visitors from across the UK and internationally.
  • Delivered by the Crawick Artland Trust and the Buccleuch family.
  • Driving considerable economic regeneration for the area:

– increased footfall to Upper Nithsdale, tourism revenue to local businesses – jobs – education facility – leisure and recreation resource for the local community groups.

Crawick Multiverse

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  • The Glenmuckloch and Crawick success cannot be achieved without collaboration.
  • These projects have led to discussions about what else could be achieved for the region.

Diagnostics:

  • The North Sanquhar Moor is not delivering for the area.
  • Issues with the Powharnel Open Cast Mine Site for The Scottish Government and Scottish

Natural Heritage.

  • The Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area does not have the Hen

Harrier and Golden Plover regeneration it should.

  • The council identified need for economic development in Upper Nithsdale. Require

cornerstone project.

  • Power companies need an anchor base load to support energy production.
  • Community initiatives being discussed include:

– railway – ski slope – mining museum – lack of tourism offering – undeveloped old mining land around the village.

Current position

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  • Create a combined energy and environmental initiative that can

deliver widespread benefit on a social, economic and environmental level.

  • A windfarm development that will help meet energy needs and cut

greenhouse gases; supported by the proposed Pump Storage Hydro activity at Glenmuckloch.

  • A major peatland and habitat restoration scheme to revitalise the

Special Protection Area, building on the habitat management protocols developed on the Langholm Moor Project.

  • Delivery of very substantial community benefits for local

communities to prioritise.

  • Support for community ambitions.

Our vision

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  • Feasibility work is ongoing and will be discussed with consultees

and communities.

  • Options include the potential to build a windfarm of around 100

turbines.

  • For example, Buccleuch land to the north west of Wanlockhead

could potentially accommodate 50 turbines.

  • Preliminary discussions have been held among Buccleuch, 2020

Renewables, other local landowners, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Government.

  • Community discussions are now underway.
  • No decisions have been taken and numerous options are being

considered.

Where we are now

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Site map

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Leadhills Wanlockhead Sanquhar

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  • Large scale habitat management plan to be implemented over a

long period giving habitats and species time to become established.

  • It is proposed to create extensive and detailed habitat

management plans to enable positive and innovative peatland and heather restoration.

  • No turbines would be built on the North Lowther Uplands Special

Protection Area.

Peatland restoration

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  • Peatland restoration
  • Bio-diversity

management

  • Water management

Areas of peat

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  • Opportunity to improve the long term condition of the Special

Protection Area.

  • A habitat management plan will be developed to be implemented

alongside any development.

  • Opportunity to improve bog, mire and wet heath habitats.
  • Benefits to waders and black grouse, and to predators including

hen harrier and short eared owl.

  • Plans will be developed in consultation with stakeholders including

SNH and RSPB.

Peatland restoration

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  • Community benefit would be – at least - in accordance with

Scottish Government guidelines. Given the potential scale of the initiative, Scottish Ministers will determine the outcome in accordance with planning policy.

  • Discussions will be held with all relevant parties in relation to

community benefits, including local representative groups as well as Dumfries and Galloway and South Lanarkshire Councils.

Benefits

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Timings

Timings

  • No planning application has been made and will not be submitted

until scoping work is concluded at the end of 2015.

  • The scoping phase would be followed by six months of design

work.

Engagement

  • A community liaison team has been appointed to engage fully with

interested parties.

  • Updates on progress and developments will be communicated

regularly.

  • Expert representatives from the Initiative will be available to

discuss matters with Wanlockhead Village Council.

North Lowther Energy Initiative

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Timings

2020 Renewables Limited Clyde View (Suite F3) Riverside Business Park 22 Pottery Street Greenock PA15 2UZ Tel: 01475 749950 e-mail: amacleod@2020renewables.com Queensberry Estate Office Drumlanrig Mains Thornhill DG3 4AG Tel: 01848 600400 E-mail: drogerson@buccleuch.com

Contacts

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