Clachan windfarm rebranded

[NickB]

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Rory Young has rebranded Clachan Windfarm as Clachan Community Energy

The 'new look' includes an opportunity for individuals to invest directly in the windfarm and various novel proposals for the distribution of the Community Fund (or 'bribe' if you prefer).

[Foxglove]

Determined..isn't he?

[MonaLott]

Bribing and corrupt!

[Minimum]

Quite obviously he believes that dangling the financial carrot in front of some people's noses will make them change their minds.

[NickB]

Quite obviously he believes that dangling the financial carrot in front of some people's noses will make them change their minds.

Isn't it a bit too late? I mean, all those who were going to object will have objected by now and I don't think there is a mechanism for withdrawing letters of objection, is there?

[Minimum]

It depends on how far he takes the 'rebranding'? In theory some folk could withdraw their objections based on a change in the proposed project.

[Pentlandpirate]

The bribe sounds more desperate. He needs to try and get this through before Alex Salmond gets chucked out. From the 'new' website:

Each debenture (share) is expected to provide a 6% to 8% annual return over the lifetime of the project

Ooooof! What an awful return for what amounts to venture capital.

[MonaLott]

Who's going to chuck Alex out, PP? He's in a class of his own, his poll ratings remain impressive and the opposition is crap. However, his rejection of nuclear energy is unfortunate. But the subsidies of wind farms come from the George Osborne in Westminster and unfortunately lead to opportunist land owners trying to bribe ordinary folk to agree to ruin their local environment.

[Pentlandpirate]

Who's going to chuck Alex out, PP

That's a different topic! But he has forced an agenda that many see as unnecessary, wasteful, a distraction from other important issues, and dangerous for the longterm future of the country, for his own vanity. If a referendum gets a 'No' vote I don't see how he can survive politically, no matter how bad the competition is. He's in a class of his own as a slimeball.

............anyhow that's another topic!

[Herby Dice]

Bribing and corrupt!

Strong words, Mona, and inappropriate, I believe. Mr. Young is trying to increase local support for his venture, by offering incentives which some might like to term bribes. There is no reason to believe that what he is doing is in any way illegal or corrupt, and any suggestion to the contrary would be unwise without compelling evidence.
You might want to review your post.

[MonaLott]

Not how I see it, PP - he's in a win/win situation. Either he'll get a Yes vote or many more powers, both of which are his objectives. Calling him a slimeball isn't exactly mature comment but, I agree, let's leave this deviation from the main topic of the thread...........now, is there anyone else we could call a slimeball.....?!

Herby, the bribery bit should be obvious, the corrupt bit would apply either to someone who would prostitute their precious environment and amenity for financial gain or to the briber. Just a personal opinion, of course, as is my belief that the technology is feeble and unnecessary.

[Pentlandpirate]

In this context Mona makes no suggestion of curruption or any improper behaviour of bribery.

If someone makes an improper payment to an official or someone in a position of authority that is a bribe and a criminal offence but if someone makes a payment to an individual, such as a Seil resident, to influence their personal opinion I don't see why that cannot be described as a bribe. It's just that doing that isn't a criminal offence.

[NickB]

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Here's some folk in Lewis having an Enercon E44 turbine delivered. (The proposed turbines for Clachan are this model). They seem quite happy about it - but then this turbine is 100% community owned.

Gives you some idea of the scale of the machines though.

[MonaLott]

How would these monster components get along our roads, e.g. over the Kilninver bridge?

[NickB]

How would these monster components get along our roads, e.g. over the Kilninver bridge?

Dunno. I have to say that when I looked at the Horshader pix the loads were slightly smaller than I anticipated. Mr. Young has been asked about this - particularly poor old Kilninver Bridge - and has said it is being 'looked into'. Worst scenario is wrecked roads/bridges and no-one taking any responsibility - shades of Scottish Water but worse.

Talking of which, what eventually happened to the huge crane that came to a halt at the Ardmaddy junction yesterday?

[Just a gimp]

Not too keen on the wind farm proposal,
However, not to lose the principle, how much would he pay for a Community Council massage??

[Beetlejuice]

Can someone please direct me to where I can read about the "expressed wishes of the local people for direct ownership ..."??

"I feel that my wish for genuine community involvement in the wind farm benefits hasn’t taken the rooting that I had hoped for."

Too right!!

Does Mr. Young seriously think that if he just calls it a "community project" it will become such a thing, appease the hundreds of locals and visitors who objected to it, and convince them that they really, really want it??

[Dedboring]

OK for those who wish to prostitute themselves I suppose, well said JustaGimp

[Pentlandpirate]

Did I miss something? Was the Clachan Wind farm application refused? Or withdrawn? What has caused Rory Young to re-bramd it with a 'fresh initiative'?

[NickB]

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I've just had a look at Rory Young's blog and he says that people are showing an interest in investing through the Abundance Generation model. This involves buying a debenture which is not redeemable for the lifetime of the project.

You could get 8% return on your capital, but you will not get your capital back for 25 years. This may be an attractive investment for young people, but it seems like a non-starter for the bus pass generation.