SCOTTISH ISLANDS WAVE POWER SCHEME "A GREEN SUCCESS STORY."

SCOTTISH ISLANDS WAVE POWER SCHEME "A GREEN SUCCESS STORY."

ALLAN AND MacNEIL WELCOME PLANNING PERMISSION FOR SIADAR WAVE POWER SCHEME

The Western Isles' SNP MSP and MP, have welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to grant planning permission to the Siadar wave power scheme on the Isle of Lewis. The move was announced by First Minister, Alex Salmond, at First Minister's Questions today.

The site is set to become one of the first, and largest, wave power projects of its kind anywhere in the world and will be capable of generating up to 4 megawatts of energy. It will also create up to 70 jobs on the Isle of Lewis.

Mr. Allan commented:

"I am delighted that the Scottish Government have decided to grant planning permission for this innovative and exciting renewable energy project for the west coast of Lewis. This project has been driven and supported from the beginning by the community, and comes at a time when the Western Isles needs work.

"At a time when more and more people are focusing on ways to help preserve the planet and produce energy for future generations it is schemes like this that are vitally important for our future energy needs.

"Having visited the site and met with those involved in it, I know that this news will be greeted warmly, and that the community will now be eager to move forward to the construction phase. I intend to meet with them about this soon to discuss the next steps forward."

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil commented:

"This ground-breaking proposal will not only produce enough energy to power around 1,800 homes and provide some very welcome jobs on Lewis but will also provide an 'active' breakwater for the communities in and around Siadar.

"The scale of this project is underlined by the fact that there is currently less than 10 megawatts of wave energy capacity installed worldwide.

"This approval is testament to the hard work of all those in Lewis who have worked to get this project off the ground, and I believe that the right decision has been made by the Scottish Government today."