Leading UK windfarm developer ScottishPower has pledged significant business to Scotland's first wind turbine factory, announced today by the Scottish Executive for Machrihanish, near Campbeltown, in Argyll.

ScottishPower will be placing orders for wind turbines and steel towers to help propel its £300 million windfarm expansion plan.

The company will also award the factory a repair and maintenance contract for its windfarm currently under construction at nearby Beinn an Tuirc, in mid Kintyre, which will be the most productive in the UK when operational at the end of the year.

ScottishPower was a driving force behind the local campaign to attract investment for the new factory, which hopes to plug in to the UK expansion of windpower projects.

It will be operated by Danish wind farm manufacturers Vestas, which last year won £20million of windfarm contracts from ScottishPower, and leased from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The factory is expected to create 100 jobs and to be operational by the end of the year.

Charles Berry, ScottishPower Executive Director, UK Division, said the factory represented a huge vote of confidence by both government and private sector in the future market for renewable energy in Scotland.

"We will be making considerable investment in renewable energy and it is very rewarding that the Scottish economy will be benefiting directly from the new business", he added.

Tom Pedersen, Managing Director of Vestas Danish Wind Technology, who was behind Vestas plans for the manufacturing plant said : " ScottishPower has been instrumental in this project with their commitment to further expand their already large portfolio of windfarms in the Kintyre area and elsewhere in Scotland".

Les Howarth, former MD of Campbeltown Shipyard, who headed the local campaign for the factory, said he was absolutely delighted at the news.

"This is wonderful for the area, especially in the wake of the closure of so much local businesses including the Jaeger plant. I have had countless people phoning me up and knocking on the door asking how we were doing. These are long-term quality jobs, and my hope is that the factory takes off creating even more opportunities".

Further Information:

Gordon Laidlaw ScottishPower Press Office:                      0141 248 8200