We are a group of Isle of Lewis residents; Gaels, business owners, parents, crofters and surfers.
Our mission is to inform the community about the large scale industrialisation that our island is facing.
Information on the proposed Northland Power ‘very inshore’ * West Side wind farm and its implications for the Isle of Lewis
What is being proposed?
Up to 66 wind turbines, proposed to be 380m to blade tip, 4.5km from the shore at its closest point.
Huge substations on both the West Side and outside Stornoway.
Transmission across the island, currently proposed to be undergrounded through the Lewis peatlands but surveying for pylons has also been undertaken.
Developers are Canadian multinational Northland Power, who paid Crown Estate Scotland just £16.1 million for the lease of the seabed in 2022, and Irish energy company ESB, who bought 24.5% of the development from Northland in 2023.
The Scottish Government’s SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) for this site states: ‘There is potential for significant effects on population (noise impacts), navigational safety and visual effects.’ *
Community consultation?
Marine Scotland are responsible for managing and developing Scotland’s seas. They have not properly consulted with the communities which are expected to host this development.
In its consultation response Comhairle nan Eilean Siar stated that: “there is strong community support for marine energy development around the islands” *
Highlands and Islands Enterprise noted in its consultation response that DPOs (Draft Plan Options for the West Side wind farm) “could potentially negatively impact commercial fisheries, commercial shipping, aquaculture, tourism and recreation sector.” *
Learn from Shetland
103 wind turbines have now been installed in the central mainland of Shetland. The Viking Wind Farm went ahead after a 20 year battle which has bitterly divided islanders.
“…the community stake which was initially calculated to generate as much as £20 million annually for Shetland Charitable Trust has been reduced to next to nothing.
Work is also progressing in the hills above the Kergord valley.
There will be, however, a community benefit fund which will be able distribute around £2.2 million a year (£95 per islander) to local projects and initiatives.”*
Do you consent to being part of a “living laboratory” experiment?
Protecting our dualchas, our island and our environment in the face of multi-national exploitation.
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