A second meeting of Sustainable Shetland, a group opposing the Viking Energy windfarm project was held on 11 March 2008. Here the group's chairman Billy Fox explains the reasons behind forming Sustainable Shetland and invites to an open meeting later this month.

The group has now structured itself formally with the appointment of office bearers as follows:-

Chair Billy Fox
Vice-Chair Kevin Learmonth
Secretary Joy Tait
Minutes Secretary Rosa Steppanova
Membership Secretary Linda Fox
Treasurer Wendy Fraser

Media Group Jim Nicolson
Allen Fraser
Billy Fox
James MacKenzie
Rosa Steppanova
Kevin Learmonth

The establishment of a management committee was adopted consisting of all those attending the meeting – John Anderson, Billy Fox, Robert Anderson, Phil Smith, James MacKenzie, Rosa Steppanova, Jim Nicolson, Jim T Nicolson, Allen Fraser, Drew Anderson, Kevin Learmonth, Frank Hay, Joy Tait, Wendy Fraser, Jim Fraser, Jim Georgeson, Victor Gray, Oliver Cheyne, Jim Moncrieff, Alex Grant, Roger Ford, Vic Drosso, Dave Hammond, Pia Duernberger, Paul Featherstone, Jim Stout.

Aims and objectives of the group are, first and foremost, to oppose the Viking Energy wind farm proposal and any subsequent large-scale proposals that would necessitate an interconnecter cable and export of electricity out with Shetland.

The group remains committed to levels of renewables that are fit for scale within Shetland. Whilst recognising there is an economic level for renewables connected to the grid; there is nothing to hinder development of stand-alone projects, these can also qualify for Renewable Obligation Certificates. This is already the case in Fair Isle and is a major factor in the economics of the proposed Foula scheme. Linking this with a policy of energy conservation and efficiency measures, presents Shetland with a golden opportunity to set an example in microcosm of how the world should be tackling global warming, without large-scale and irreversible damage to our environment.

The group feels that there is a significant level of concern and uncertainty in the Shetland population regarding the Viking Energy proposal. We strongly believe that the Mori poll carried out by Viking in late 2006 was a premature survey with the level of information in the public domain insufficient to allow individuals to make informed decisions. The published 76% support figure subsequently gave rise to the widespread opinion that Shetlanders don’t care about their environment, which is certainly not the case, as the recent shareholder meetings of Tresta and Gardens and Aithsting have clearly demonstrated.

With many the sheer scale of this project is only beginning to sink in. Compare the turbines 476 feet (145 metres) high, with a blade diameter of 361 feet (110 metres), to a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. Its wingspan is 59.6 metres, with a fuselage length of 64 metres - two-thirds the turbine blade span. These dimensions coupled with the area proposed represent the largest civil engineering project ever to be carried out in Shetland. If the new Anderson High School merits a 3D model on display in the Shetland Museum, then this project most certainly does.

The environmental implications are contentious to say the least. There is a growing body of scientific opinion regarding the importance of peat bogs and moorland as a major carbon sink. Bodies such as the National Trust and the United Nations Environmental Programme advocate no disturbance to peat bog habitat whatsoever. On a global scale the protection of peat bogs is seen as one of the most cost effective options for climate change mitigation.

If it goes ahead it will turn the backbone of central Shetland from pristine wilderness into an industrial estate, and thousands of acres of carbon-absorbing peat moor will be irreversibly disturbed. Resulting runoff could have a devastating effect on our aquaculture industry and trout fisheries.

There are also concerns financially. The exposure of such significant volumes of Shetland’s wealth through the Charitable Trust is an eggs in one basket risk that we consider unacceptable.

The imposition of these massive turbines will also have a serious effect on the quality of life for the adjacent communities, health issues relating to noise, low frequency vibrations and shadow flicker are now becoming more apparent in existing wind farms down south.

All these issues need to be fully addressed, to this end; Sustainable Shetland will be holding an open meeting in the Bixter Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday the 26 March. We invite anyone who shares our concerns about the project or who feels they would like to lend support to please attend this meeting.

Sustainable Shetland
www.sustainableshetland.org