What’s the latest?

In October 2006, the finalised Feasibility Study for the original 3-turbine project was rolled out for a Public Presentation in the Old School Centre, Shawbost – all HCD Ltd members were invited to attend.  The Board worked hard to obtain Detailed Planning Permission, an essential condition for winning a place in the queue for a grid-connection to the mainland, and were in almost constant talks with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; Scottish Natural Heritage; the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Western Isles Enterprise: Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company etc. etc. The bird-study issue was a special concern. 

However, in the summer of 2007, we were advised  by the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company that the proposed project would be too large for immediate connection to the existing grid, and that a smaller project would stand a more realistic chance of becoming a reality.  We therefore began to look at the feasibility of erecting one 850 kW turbine, south of the main road near the Norse Mill car park, with a straightforward connection to the existing 11 kV overhead lines.  To this end, we’re finalising arrangements for a wind-monitoring mast  to be erected on site, which will then gather data for a year.

We are a member of  a secondary cooperative company, sharing information with other community wind energy groups on the island, such as those at Point, Tolsta, Shader and North Harris, which helps everyone progress quickly through the various planning stages and avoids, to a certain extent, reinventing the wheel. 

We continue to enjoy the support and guidance of the good souls at HICEC, who hold our hands at regular intervals and who regularly turn up at our meetings to watch what we’re doing and offer helpful advice. We also enjoy support and encouragement from Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, as do all of the community renewable energy groups.

We’re especially grateful to our accountant, for keeping us in the black and out of prison and to other helpful souls in the private sector who are far too modest to want any publicity.  The Board issues a detailed newsletter twice each year and holds an Annual General Meeting, usually in the early summer.

We cannot forget our debt to our late colleague, Angus G MacLeod of Dalmore, whose death in September 2005 was a cruel blow to the Company and very much more to his wife, family and community; and to Diane Smith, whose services as Company Secretary in our first year were prodigious, sacrificial and invaluable.