BRIAN Wilson, the former Ayrshire MP and UK energy minister, has become chairman of the UK arm of an international renewable energy company developing wind farms in Scotland.
Dublin-based Airtricity is currently building three farms in Scotland and has several more in the planning pipeline.
It said Wilson would help its new UK operations group in functions which included "strong communications links with the UK government, the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office".
Wilson, who stood down as an MP before the last election, said: "I have repeatedly said that there is no point in setting ambitious targets for renewable energy if the projects do not exist to turn them into reality.
"Airtricity is a dynamic company with ambitious plans that can make a real contribution to meeting the UK's renewable energy goals. It also has a good record of working with communities and this is something I will seek to encourage."
Wilson added: "The downside of the Scottish Executive setting high targets is a higher obligation to deliver projects within a reasonable timescale.
That involves a much more coherent, committed effort than is evident at the present time."
The group is being set up to bring Airtricity's offshore and onshore renewable projects in the UK under one umbrella, and will recruit a chief executive, though Wilson's appointment is immediate.
Airtricity is building the Braes of Doune, Minsca and Dalswinton wind farms, totalling 130mw, adding to its existing 24mw site at Ardrossan. It has another 1000mw of Scottish capacity in development, with a public hearing for its Clyde project due next spring, amounting to more than its Northern Ireland (400mw) and England (500mw) pipeline combined.
Eddie O'Connor, chief executive of Airtricity, said the company had already made a commitment to sourcing 60-per cent of its Scottish wind farm hardware in Scotland. "A lot of developers have brought in machines from other countries but we have made a conscious effort to source locally. That is a tough commitment now and not many companies are going to be doing that."
On possible community resistance to projects, O'Connor said: "We have to try to find energy self-sufficiency where we can get it, and stack up those considerations against someone who doesn't like the look of it."
He added: "It is a pleasure to operate in the UK where the government is committed to the growth of the renewable energy sector. The rapid rundown of the North Sea fossil reserves and the concentration of future gas supplies in Russia are seen by Airtricity as challenges to be overcome and opportunities for business development.
"Brian Wilson is a keen advocate of renewable energy, and I am delighted that we have attracted someone of his calibre to chair our UK operations.
"His industry and political insight will be invaluable to Airtricity as we undergo ambitious expansion in the UK."
Airtricity is also developing wind farms in the US, and supplies renewable energy to over 43,000 customers in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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