EUROPE'S largest onshore windfarm has been given the go-ahead by Scottish ministers.
EUROPE'S largest onshore windfarm has been given the go-ahead by Scottish ministers.
The £600million Clyde project near Abington in South Lanarkshire will be capable of powering up to 320,000 homes when fully operational.
Today's news means the Lanarkshire area will house the two largest windfarms in Europe - Clyde and Whitelee.
First Minister Alex Salmond announced the green light ahead of his appearance at the World Renewable Energy Congress at the SECC.
The 152-turbine scheme is expected to create 200 jobs during construction and 30 staff once fully operational.
It will be built on both sides of the M74, with a total capacity of 548 megawatts when fully operational in 2010.
The windfarm being completed at Eaglesham will have a total capacity of 322MW.
Mr Salmond said today: "The Clyde windfarm will represent a very important step in the development of renewable energy in Scotland. It is another step towards making Scotland the green energy capital of Europe.
"The Scottish Government has an ambitious target to generate 31% of Scotland's electricity demand from renewable sources by 2011, and 50% by 2020.
"Today's announcement makes it virtually certain that the 2011 target will be met early and exceeded by the end of this Parliamentary term. It represents a significant milestone on the way to achieving the 2020 target.
"Scotland has a clear, competitive advantage in developing clean, green energy sources such as wind, wave and tidal power.
"We have put renewable energy at the heart of our vision of increasing sustainable, economic growth."
However, the Whitelee project has already caused complaints. Earlier this month, the Evening Times told how viewers in the East End of Glasgow were having problems with their TV reception.
Experts blamed the £150million Scottish Power windfarm which they said interfered with the signal from the Darvel transmitter in Ayrshire.
Campaigners also complain turbines are noisy and spoil the landscape.
