Salmond opens SSE's Clyde wind farm

Clyde farm, the wind farm owned by SSE, is now officially open after Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, cut the ceremonial ribbon.

It is one of the largest single consented wind farms in Europe and is SSE's largest onshore wind project.

The 152 turbines at Clyde wind farm are split into three sections with a total installed capacity of 350 megawatts, capable of producing enough energy during a year to meet the needs of around 280,000 homes. The project is situated between Biggar and Moffat occupying around 47 square kilometres.

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"Scotland has astounding green energy potential and vast natural resources. Harnessing this through renewable energy offers the prospect of tens of thousands of new jobs and billions of pounds of investment in our economy - nothing less than the reindustrialisation of Scotland," Salmond said.

"Quite apart from the jobs and economic benefit being created through SSE's 350 megawatt wind farm, almost £22m will be ploughed into communities across South Lanarkshire, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway over the next 25 years from their profits," Salmond said.

JH