Scottish tourism must go green, according to industry leaders, with less dependence on short-haul flights into Scottish airports and protection of scenic areas against planned wind farms. They warned yesterday that the rapid growth in visitor numbers could be harmed if the wilderness was spoiled by power-grid pylons or turbines, including the prospect of offshore wind farms threatening to spoil sea views. “Tourism-fragile zones” are being proposed in rural visitor honeypots, where there would be a block on wind farms, at least until a national review of their expansion.

A campaign group representing more than 20 rural communities opposed to the siting of wind turbines in their areas has this week written to Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey and Minister for the Environment Dick Roche seeking a meeting to discuss their concerns. Peter Crossan, spokesman for the Irish Wind Energy Truth Alliance (IWETA) also confirmed that it was considering running general election candidates in counties such as Tipperary and Cork, to take votes from members of the Coalition Government.

On behalf of a planning committee working with the Wind Power Inc. company, Elle presented a location in the north end of town. The location is serviced and is close to the future Wal-mart, which is likely to welcome recreation vehicles. The proposed turbine would be fully operational and most of the revenue would likely go back to Wind Power, with a small portion going towards maintaining an interpretive centre. Wind Power is one company interested in erecting the machine.

THERE could be “potentially catastrophic effects” on both the local tourism industry and the roads network if the Griffin Forest and Calliacher windfarms get the go-ahead, according to Mid-Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Murdo Fraser. He explained that the proposed Griffin Forest development would consist of 68 turbines, almost all with a maximum height from base to blade tip of 124 metres. They would be built to the east of the A826, between Aberfeldy and Trochry, covering a total area around the size of Perth. The Calliachar development would consist of 27 turbines, with a maximum height of 100 metres, and would be built to the west of the A826, between Aberfeldy, Kenmore and Amulree, covering around 624 hectares.

Opposition to two Perthshire wind farms has gained the support of MSP Murdo Fraser. The Tory politician, who represents Mid-Scotland and Fife, yesterday told a public inquiry at Amulree village hall he backs Perth and Kinross Council’s rejection of the application by GreenPower to build 68 turbines at Griffin Forest, near Dunkeld, and also a plan to build 27 turbines at Calliacher, near Aberfeldy. He said, “The tourism industry throughout Perthshire accounts for about 15% of all employment in the area. When tourism comprises such a large proportion of employment, it can be deemed as not only very important, but essential. “Whilst the contractors are to be commended for reducing the proposed total number of turbines from 128…this is still 95 too many on our rural landscape.

A TOURIST board has come out strongly against wind farm developments which could impact on Northumberland as a top holiday destination. Northumberland Tourism has called for an independent study in the wake of a rush of renewable energy applications across the county. There are currently eight live applications with another 17 in the pipeline – totalling nearly 300 turbines.

Trump has partnered with Bethpage caterer Steve Carl to create Trump on the Ocean, a $40-million upscale catering hall and restaurant on Jones Beach's boardwalk. They will announce the deal this afternoon...... The ballrooms and lobby will feature Atlantic Ocean views - and Trump said he wants them unobstructed, strongly objecting to the proposal for a 40-turbine wind farm three and a half miles off the beach's coast. "I think it's terrible," Trump said, adding that he thought solar and wave energy were better alternatives. "If they want to destroy Jones Beach and the entire Long Island shore, then I think they should build a wind farm."

THE local tourism board for Northumberland has come out strongly against windfarm development which could impact on Northumberland as a top holiday destination and has called for an urgent independent study. The plea from Northumberland Tourism comes in the wake of a rush of renewable energy applications across the county. There are currently eight 'live' applications with another 17 in the pipeline – totalling nearly 300 turbines.

Coutryside guardians yesterday echoed fears that the drive to generate green energy was threatening serious harm to Northumberland's vital tourism industry. The Campaign to Protect Rural England says the potential influx of hundreds of huge wind turbines would damage the county's natural assets and hamper its ability to attract more visitors and their spending power.

Tourism chiefs in Northumberland fear the rush to erect hundreds of giant wind turbines poses a serious threat to the county's natural beauty and could drive away visitors - and their money. Northumberland Tourism - the agency set up this year to promote the county's visitor industry - is the latest player to enter the debate over wind farms.

MONTEREY — “Now is not the time,” said Highland County supervisor Jerry Rexrode in response to a request for money and a letter of support for a feasibility study to establish a tourist trail in the Alleghany Highlands. “Maybe six months from now and I would support it,” he said. At Tuesday night’s supervisors’ meeting, the trail idea concerned officials because of pending litigation faced by the county. Rexrode said he does not oppose tourism or money spent to enhance tourism in Highland, but repeated it was the wrong time to commit to the project.

A WIND farm at Cape Bridgewater approved in the 1990s would not gain approval today because of its impact on the natural tourism asset, a local resident who fought the first proposal in the late 1990s has claimed. Portland consultant and Cape Bridgewater resident Bruce Campbell said Bridgewater had the second highest scenic landscape values in Victoria, behind the Twelve Apostles, as rated by the National Trust, and was the Glenelg Shire Council's best tourism asset.

Developers behind plans for an Aberdeen offshore wind farm are denying that their proposals have been ‘watered down’ in response to concerns raised by billionaire Donald Trump.

DONALD Trump, the American billionaire, has forced the relocation of a wind farm that he claimed would blight his planned golf course in Aberdeenshire.

BEDFORD — The county’s visitors bureau has spoken out against wind turbines, saying they will not boost tourism.

He recalled Vermont's high scoring in the National Geographic Traveler's Destination Scorecard in 2004. Among the judges' comments was this apt summation: "One of the few places where a large percentage of the populace is committed to conservation/preservation over injudicious development."
Editor's Note: Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is the site of proposed wind plants in East Haven and Sheffield/Sutton.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS have slammed Donald Trump’s threats to withdraw from building a prestigious golf resort in the northeast unless a wind farm development is halted.

The businessman, whose mother was born on Lewis, warned his championship course, five-star hotel, golf academy and 500 holiday homes would be scrapped unless proposals for a nearby offshore wind farm were abandoned.

A new report says plans for a wind farm off the coast of north Wales could damage tourism.