The 19-turbine new Aikengall wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills, near the Borders, has been given the go-ahead by the Scot-Govt following a local public inquiry.
The plan was twice rejected by Borders Council – even after the developer reduced the number of turbines on the first reject.
The development by Cheshire-based Community Wind Power Ltd will generate up to £9.4 million in community benefit, to be divided equally between nearby local communities and will support the creation of around 100 jobs during construction and operations.
It will have a generating capacity around 75.5MW – enough to power the equivalent of almost 35,000 homes.
Announcing his approval, Scottish Economy & Enterprise Minister Keith Brown said: “Renewable energy generated more than 56% of gross electricity consumption in Scotland in 2015, helping support our world-leading ambitions to become a low-carbon economy.
“The growth of onshore wind in recent years has been a key factor in the expansion of renewable energy in Scotland: creating jobs, providing secure and low-carbon energy and delivering significant local benefits.”
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