Scotland gives nod to more wind energy

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EDINBURGH, Scotland, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The Scottish government said it's given its consent to expand a wind farm near the western coast to 23 turbines.

Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said the government gave its approval to add another six wind turbines to the Lochluichart wind farm near the country's west coast. With the addition, the wind farm could generate as much as 69 megawatts of energy, enough to meet the annual energy needs of more than 32,000 homes.

Ewing said the wind farm would generate more than $1.2 million for the local economy and offset "thousands of tons" of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

"I have put in place a series of conditions to protect the outstanding natural habitats and landscapes and local communities," he added.

Edinburgh said it was considering at least 35 other applications for onshore wind energy development.

Scotland has one of the most ambitious renewable energy programs in the world. The government aims to derive 100 percent of the country's electricity demand through renewable energy projects by 2020.