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Trump urges Scottish Government to “kill” Aberdeenshire wind farm

April 25 2012

Trump urges Scottish Government to “kill” Aberdeenshire wind farm
Outspoken tycoon Donald Trump has said his plans to erect a hotel and hundreds of homes next to his Menie golf course are on hold unless the Scottish Government “kills” plans to erect 11 turbines off the Aberdeenshire coastline.

Trump explained: “As soon as the windfarm idea is killed, we’ll start phase two.”

If it does go ahead Trump was much less clear cut, stating merely said that he would “have to make a determination at some time.” He added “this is a much bigger project in total than the wind farms and if they do it and they destroy Scotland, they will have committed a terrible error.”

Reacting to the news local resident David Milne, who has campaigned against the golf resort, said: “It’s just an example of arrogant and selfish inconsistency. He has destroyed an area of outstanding natural beauty, a site of special scientific interest and now he’s arguing about something that’s a mile away and which will be barely visible.”

Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament Trump said he was “lured” into building the resort after being given assurances from the former and present First ministers, Jack McConnell and Alex Salmond that the offshore wind farm would not proceed.

Both deny the accusations.
Proponents argue that the visual impact of the windfarm will be minimal
Proponents argue that the visual impact of the windfarm will be minimal
Take your pic: Aberdeen could be spared this clubhouse if the windfarm goes ahead
Take your pic: Aberdeen could be spared this clubhouse if the windfarm goes ahead

15 Comments

is this it?
#1 Posted by is this it? on 26 Apr 2012 at 09:19 AM
who does this guy think he is? Unreal! What a numpty! He really does not have a clue...
Egbert
#2 Posted by Egbert on 26 Apr 2012 at 09:24 AM
'Giving evidence' is charitable - when pressed by the committee to provide some evidence for his claims he replied "I AM THE EVIDENCE."

The sooner Scotland is rid of this absurd grandstander the better.
SuBo
#3 Posted by SuBo on 26 Apr 2012 at 10:07 AM
Since when did windfarms 'destroy' Scotland?? I think a nasty 1980s power grabbing golf club and owner will do more destroying. I guess we all know the reason Trump doesn't want windfarms anywhere near him....toupee anyone?
Graeme
#4 Posted by Graeme on 26 Apr 2012 at 10:22 AM
This guy has an absolute cheeky having any say in the jeopardy of Scottish landscape. Construction of his generic and ugly golf clubhouse and surrounding golf course resulted in the flattening of the stunning Aberdonian sand dunes. I think he needs to pipe down.
Alex Salmond
#5 Posted by Alex Salmond on 26 Apr 2012 at 13:56 PM
"Baw Bag"
Fae Aberdeenshire
#6 Posted by Fae Aberdeenshire on 26 Apr 2012 at 15:27 PM
Wind turbines are terrible things and have ruined my life with noise and moving shadows they generate, I have four outside my house and one with planning permission and two under consideration.
Ronald Chump
#7 Posted by Ronald Chump on 26 Apr 2012 at 16:27 PM
I'd like to know why Alex Slamond allows all those boats in Aberdeen bay. It's a disgrace - They'll spoil my view of the turbines.
Marksss
#8 Posted by Marksss on 27 Apr 2012 at 09:10 AM
Fae Aberdeen- Errr, these are out at sea I don't think they'll disturb your sleep...
Sven
#9 Posted by Sven on 27 Apr 2012 at 11:30 AM
Having spent a lot of time in Denmark, I am somewhat immune to the presence of offshore wind turbines. They do have a certain charm, even if it is to provide something to compare a beautiful coastline with something ugly. I am pro the new golf and housing that Trump is planning and I question any public money being used to subsidise wind farms as they are not profitable or a long term strategy for power generation.
Karen
#10 Posted by Karen on 30 Apr 2012 at 12:39 PM
Can we not get rid of this flatulent bore? He's giving us an opportunity!
christopher dinnis
#11 Posted by christopher dinnis on 30 Apr 2012 at 12:57 PM
I agree with Trump in that turbines are completely uneconomic for producing electricity and as such the Scottish Government should stop spending this money on wind turbines and instead seriously invest in tidal turbines. These have far greater logic as they are non visible and guarantee constant power supply day in and day out. So for that reason Donald Trump is Trumps!!
Craig Comerford
#12 Posted by Craig Comerford on 30 Apr 2012 at 14:24 PM
This man has NO CLUE! I am sure the wind farms are much more beautiful than his mid atlantic botch of architecture.Seems like once you become God you have all rights to idiocy as a profession.
David
#13 Posted by David on 30 Apr 2012 at 16:45 PM
I'd actually like to see people actually back up some of the statements on here (Sven, and christopher dinnis).

I'm fairly sure that we wouldn't be investing what we are and acheiving what we do (30% of scotlands energy needs) on a technology that is 'not profitable' or not a 'long term strategy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Scotland

I guess this wiki page is another 'view', which I'd be fairly confident gets a good deal of the facts correct, including £35 billion pound revenue for Scotland over the next 5 years. We are officially the windiest country in the world, and that could potentially make us one of the richest.
Sven
#14 Posted by Sven on 1 May 2012 at 21:55 PM
David,

Denmark's tourist industry is not nearly as important to it as is in Scotland. Denmark is not a country famed for the beauty of its countryside - flat and rather dull farmland and bog - think Norfolk on a dull day. The Danes have accepted the fact that proximity to windfarms has a detrimental effect on property values and has a mandatory compensation scheme in place. The Danish have the highest domestic electricity prices in Europe, mainly due to subsidies to wind farms!

The Scotsman ran an article on this quite recently.

http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/environment/shale-gas-not-wind-is-scotland-s-best-energy-source-says-expert-1-2225116
David
#15 Posted by David on 2 May 2012 at 13:03 PM
Thanks Sven, as ever two sides to every story, although somewhat inconclusive in the report.

I'm not sure I buy the detrimental to house prices issue in the Scottish context as most windfarms are sensibly located away from built up areas. Also the fact that shale gas is not a co2 free, renewable source of energy is still an issue, which is noted in the article.

However, on a more serious note, Donald Trump should calm down, or go home. Thanks for building the lovely golf course, but we don't want or need your houses or hotel.

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