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Minister facing pylon questions Power line 'could' go underground
(about 2 hours later)
Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather is being questioned by MSPs over concerns with the Beauly to Denny power line project. Parts of the controversial new Beauly to Denny power line could still be built underground, the Scottish energy minister has told MSPs.
Ministers approved the controversial plans for a line of giant pylons from the Highlands to central Scotland to boost the renewable energy industry. Jim Mather said ministers could not force developer Scottish and Southern Energy to go down that route but the option to do so had been left open.
Mr Mather appeared before Holyrood's energy committee after concerns that key questions have gone unanswered. The government approved plans for a 137-mile network of 600 pylons, running from the Highlands to central Scotland.
These include the timescale and extra planning measures for the project. The project, an upgrade of the existing line, attracted 18,000 objections.
The 137-mile line will see a network of 600 pylons, some more than 200ft in height, upgrading and replacing the existing power line, which runs to more than 800 pylons. But the government said it was vital for unlocking Scotland's potential as a renewable energy powerhouse.
The Scottish government said the development would connect renewable power projects to the national grid and unlock Scotland's potential to become a major green energy powerhouse. It puts down a really powerful signal that Scotland's really serious about harvesting its huge bounty of renewable energy Jim MatherScottish energy minister
There are a number of issues which require further discussion Iain SmithEnergy committee convener Mr Mather's comments came as he was questioned by the Scottish Parliament's energy committee, amid concern the government had failed to answer key questions on how the project would go ahead.
Mr Mather gave the go-ahead to the upgraded line in a statement to parliament a week ago, but opposition parties complained of a lack of detail on the planning conditions which would be attached to the project and said there was no precise timescale for the project to get under way. The minister told MSPs the government had rejected calls from the public inquiry into the project to withhold approval of parts of the line, in favour of green-lighting the whole development.
Concerns have also been raised over whether calls for an underground power line from some of the 18,000 objectors to the pylons were properly considered. "We chose not to do that because we felt the national interest required a whole-line consent," said Mr Mather.
Energy committee convener, Lib Dem MSP Iain Smith, said: "The upgrading work will help Scotland's renewable energy sector to grow and to flourish. He added: "We're still leaving them the option that could see us obtain some undergrounding."
"However there are a number of issues which require further discussion such as whether sections of the power line will go underground, and whether further planning or statutory consents for the project are likely to be required." Objectors to the pylons had called for an underground or sub-sea cable.
The Scottish government has maintained the new Beauly to Denny line, described as the most significant grid infrastructure project in a generation, was on track. Mr Mather again insisted the developer would have to comply to strict planning conditions when taking the project forward.
He added: "We cannot require them to underground. What we can require them to do is to mitigate. That them leaves them the option to mitigate by undergrounding."
And giving his support for the overall project, the minister told MSPs: "It will be monumental and it puts down a really powerful signal that Scotland is really serious about harvesting its huge bounty of renewable energy, that it has potentially to be exploited and we're deadly serious about backing up our Climate Change Act."
The 137-mile Beauly to Denny line would see the network of pylons, some more than 200ft in height, upgrading and replacing the existing power line, which runs to more than 800 pylons.