Ballot Results - 13th March 2015
The results of the Black Isle Community Energy Wind Farm ballot are:
Residents eligible to vote: 8614
56.7% turnout (4,884 votes); 4 invalid votes;
45.6% of valid votes were Yes (2,225 votes)
54.4% of valid votes were No (2,655 votes)
The ballot results demonstrate that only 26% of Black Isle residents eligible to participate in the ballot voted in favour of the wind farm, whereas 74% of the residents either voted No or did not vote in favour. This sends a clear message to BICE and TBI that the Black Isle does not want a community wind farm.
This is a good day for the Black Isle and its precious environment. We believe the community has made a wise decision, looking to the long-term future of the Black Isle.
It is also a good decision for the sensible use of public funds. It would have been wrong to have spent an additional £150,000 of scarce public money on a windfarm development which we believe made little financial or environmental sense.
We would like to thank all of those who, at their own cost and time, sought to bring facts and legitimate concerns to the fore and we also thank all of the Black Isle residents who voted against the wind farm.
Hopefully now we can move on together as a community, sharing many of the same aspirations, after what has been a challenging debate.
Welcome to our website
No Black Isle Wind Farm was formed by a group of Black Isle residents who support renewable energy but believe the proposed Black Isle Community Energy (BICE) Wind Farm will not benefit either the Black Isle nor help towards reducing climate change.
BICE want to build three industrial-scale turbines along the Black Isle Ridge, see Map. The Black Isle community has until 12 March to vote in a postal ballot to decide if this should happen.
No Black Isle Wind Farm believes in sustainability and the wise development of renewables. However, we do not believe that the proposed wind farm would have a significant impact on carbon emissions. What it will do is set a precedent for further wind farm development, damage a precious environment, harm its wildlife, and change the character of the Black Isle. We believe it is the wrong renewable in the wrong place and at any cost.
The turbines will be visible from many parts of the Black Isle and far beyond, see Visibility Map. The number, size and location of turbines will be decided after the ballot. BICE’s Feasibility Report recommends turbines of 115m (377ft), see Diagram. For comparison, these are as high as a 35 floor tower block with a blade diameter of 71m (232ft), longer than the wing span of a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. BICE originally sent an Expression of Interest to Forestry Commission Scotland for 10 turbines and they may decide to expand the wind farm to this number in future. Very large areas of long-established native forest will need to be felled or cut back around each turbine.
Photos showing how the wind farm would look from Wester Templand. Click on the photos to expand.
BICE’s publicity programme has focused on claims of large amounts of community money. Yet BICE’s internal records show persistent doubts about whether the project will be ‘financially viable’. Detailed calculations on the basis of realistic figures estimate the scheme would make a loss for anyone but the banks and operators, with low wind speeds and a dramatically reduced subsidy scheme.
A key concern is the way in which this proposal has been handled by Black Isle Community Energy (BICE). We believe that BICE has failed in its basic responsibilities as a Community body. It should have engaged people in open debate about options, provided balanced information, been willing to discuss alternatives, and listened to legitimate community concerns. Instead it has pursued one option and dismissed the views of many. Critically, BICE's failure to follow community engagement good practice has undermined trust that BICE is the right body to take such an important issue further.
The ballot is the only democratic chance that the whole community has to make the right decision. After the vote we will have no control over whether BICE’s wind farm proceeds, or the 'open door' precedent a 'Yes' vote would set for further wind farm development on the Black Isle. And £150,000 of public money is immediately at stake – that is what BICE plan to spend on the next steps in their development.
Please post your vote. The key question remains the same: Should the Black Isle's landscape beauty, unique wildlife and special qualities be put at risk for speculative claims about money?
