ScottishPower submit plans to Argyll and Bute Council for a £20-30 million windfarm at Inverliever near Loch Awe in Argyll. Providing green energy to over 17,500 homes, the windfarm will comprise 22 turbines.

If approved the 30MW windfarm could be operational in 2004 and would be ScottishPower's third windfarm in Argyll. It is a key part of ScottishPower's programme to install some 1000MW of windpower by 2010. During the one-year construction period around 70 construction jobs would be created and local companies will be encouraged to tender for £2-3 million of construction contracts available. Three full-time jobs will be created.

Alan Mortimer, ScottishPower's Head of Wind Development, said: "Inverliever windfarm is an important element of our programme to substantially increase renewable energy production, in line with ScottishPower's aim to have 20% of generation capacity coming from renewable sources by 2010. The windfarm has been very carefully designed to balance environmental and technical factors and take full account of views expressed by the local community."

Inverliever was selected following an exhaustive process to identify the most promising windfarm sites in Scotland based on a range of environmental and technical criteria. The site is entirely contained within land owned by Forest Enterprise which has been closely involved in the planning process.

If approved, Inverliever windfarm will reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 65,000 tonnes a year by offsetting electricity generated at conventional, coal-fired power stations.

The planning application incorporates changes after extensive consultation with the public, including 52 organisations and groups and the 65 people who attended a series of public exhibitions in May 2002. Original plans for 48 turbines have been reduced to 22 larger and more productive units.

ScottishPower, in partnership with Forest Enterprise, has developed a habitat management plan that integrates nature conservation and windfarm operation. The final application includes plans for 150 hectares of commercial forestry being cleared to create suitable foraging and nesting habitat for golden eagle, hen harrier and red throated diver.

Access will be via Forest Enterprise's existing roads to the forestry plantation to the south of the site.

The application is one of a number of recent submissions by ScottishPower, including Whitelee, potentially the biggest windfarm in Europe, on Eaglesham Moor, 10 miles from Glasgow, which could also come on stream in 2003.

Further Information:

Simon McMillan                                  0141 566 4875 or 077753 622257