Scotland may have less than 10 per cent of the UK population, but it does have more than 50 per cent of the UK’s onshore wind turbines, it has been revealed.
And news that there are currently 2,315 operating turbines north of the border has angered Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell.
His views on wind farms, especially in his large rural constituency, are simply “enough is enough”.
This is backed up by the latest analysis carried out this morning (11th April) which has shown a total of 4,350 in the whole UK, meaning Scotland is more than pulling its weight with the renewable energy burden.
And in addition to the windfarms already up-and-running, another 405 turbines are under construction.
Local authorities and the Scottish Government have already given consent to a further 1,162 blades, meaning the Scottish countryside could be swamped with windfarm development before long.
“These statistics contradict comments from the SNP that it is ready to cool its obsession with onshore wind energy,” said the local MP.
“The figures, from Renewable UK, do not even take into account those windfarms which are making their way through the planning process,” he added.
Earlier this year the Scottish Conservatives revealed that more than five million trees had been cut down to make way for turbines across Scotland.
The party has called for a moratorium to allow overwhelmed council planning departments space to breathe amid the influx of applications, many of which have been encouraged by the SNP’s renewable energy policy.
“It’s quite incredible to think that, despite only consuming less than 10 per cent of the UK’s energy, Scotland has to suffer 50 per cent of the wind turbines. This is a direct result of the SNP waving windfarm developers through, and outmuscling local councils when it comes to the decision-making process,” said Mr Mundell.
“What is more worrying is these figures do not even take into account windfarms which are under construction, given consent, or are in the midst of the planning process. There is a place for windfarms, but the Scottish Government has allowed this to get completely out of control.
“Local people deserve the right to decide what is best for their area, and I have heard time and again from constituents that they are fed up with the wholesale industrialisation of the countryside. This is totally unfair on people who have moved to this part of the world for a bit of peace and quiet, and yet find the landscape blotted by giant wind turbines. In this part of southern Scotland it is hard to find an open area without a wind turbine,” he added.