Export charges for islands electricity generation were uppermost in the mind of SNP MP Angus MacNeill at the formal opening of the Barra and Vatersay Community Wind turbine.
The Spàgan wind turbine has been hailed as one of the most productive 900kW turbines in Western Europe. The £2.2m project has been funded by Triodos Bank N.V and from subsidies from the Scottish Government.
In his speech to dozens of islanders at the turbine site, MacNeil was keen to point out that electricity costs to consumers were higher on Barra than in central London, and that island generators had to pay to export their power too.
He demanded: “Now we are producing our own energy, surely we can get rid of those costs at both ends.”
MacNeil also congratulated those who had been involved in the set up of the project including Development Officer Euan Scott and the contractor Shonny Maclennan.
Canon Angus MacQueen unveiled a plaque to commemorate the formal opening of the turbine.
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