Energy
Supreme Court Rules Against Donald Trump Wind Farm Challenge
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “I am pleased that the Supreme Court has unanimously found in our favour. The proposed European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre is an important project for Aberdeen and North East Scotland. It will give the industry the ability to test and demonstrate new technologies to enable costs to be further reduced.
“Aberdeen is already of global importance for hydrocarbons and this wind deployment centre cements its role in renewable offshore development, further positioning Aberdeen as the energy capital of Europe and a world energy centre.”
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “This result is great news for Scotland and for all those interested in tackling climate change and creating jobs. Having failed in his attempt to undermine Scotland’s renewables ambitions, it’s now time for Mr Trump to move on.
“Once up and running, this test facility will be ideally placed to help test the technologies needed to harness Scotland’s huge offshore renewables potential, ensuring learning by industry, and playing an important role in helping to drive down costs. We hope developing this important scheme can now quickly progress.
“It’s clear from the recent Paris climate talks that the world is going to have to undertake a massive renewables revolution, and schemes like the one off Aberdeenshire will have an important role to play. As we approach the Holyrood elections, we’d like to see all the political parties fully grasp the economic opportunities that will arise from this transition by committing to make Scotland’s electricity system entirely renewable by 2030.”
Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Donald Trump has caused enough delay and uncertainty with his frivolous legal challenges. The UK Supreme Court has backed two previous rulings by the Scottish Courts and Trump should now stop wasting everyone’s time and give up. It would be best all round if Trump realised that he is a laughing stock here and withdrew from Scotland for ever.”