Power line report blow to protesters

Jul 3 2009 by Stephen Lowson, Strathearn Herald

THE local campaign against the Beauly–Denny power line upgrade has been dealt a severe blow. An influential Scottish Parliament committee has urged the Scottish Government to give “a positive decision to provide a go-ahead for the Beauly-Denny line within the next few months”.

The call comes in the economy, energy and tourism committee’s report, published on Tuesday as part of its overall vision of providing secure sustainable energy provision for Scotland.

The controversial plans would more than double the current capacity of the line which cuts through the Strathearn area, passing close to Crieff at Gilmerton before continuing to Muthill and Braco.

Supporters claim the increase from 132,000 volts to 400,000 volts is necessary to allow the transmission of increased capacity from green energy sources such as windfarms.

Opponents have countered that the visual impact of the larger pylons required, from 41 metres to 65 metres tall, on parts of the route through some of Scotland’s most scenic tourist areas is too high a price to pay. They argued in favour of underground cables or an alternative sub-sea route.

Green energy body Scottish Renewables welcomed the news, saying: “Scotland's climate change and renewable energy ambitions rest on the conclusions of this report being now driven forward by government, in particular the immediate upgrade of the Beauly-Denny powerline and the streamlining of regulation to support, not hinder, delivery of the massive cuts in carbon emissions needed.”

However, locally the news was greeted with dismay. One Braco resident who lives near the proposed route told the Herald: “This is very disappointing, particularly since the whole case for requiring this massive upgrade has not been proven.

“The ability of large-scale windfarms that have not even been built yet to provide the amount of reliable, consistent energy supply which this line is intended to carry is highly questionable.”

Although its recommendation is not binding – a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Ministers will make a decision on Beauly-Denny as soon as possible this year” – the committee’s strong support for proceeding with the upgrade may have already sealed the fate of opposition to it.