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Prime Minister promises to help doomed wind turbine factory



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Published Date: 23 October 2008
By Ross Lydall
THE Prime Minister yesterday offered to help campaigners fighting the proposed closure of Scotland's only wind turbine factory.
Gordon Brown said he was aware that the loss-making Vestas factory near Campbeltown was being shut down, but promised to "endeavour to find out what I can do to help" in terms of finding new tenants for the site.

He had been told at Prime Minist
er's Questions in the Commons that more than 90 jobs were at stake if the Danish owner completed its planned closure in December.

Campaigners believe the closure is perverse at a time both the Westminster and Holyrood governments want to see a huge increase in onshore and off-shore energy from renewable sources such as wind power. Responding to a question from Alan Reid, the Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute, Mr Brown said: "The company is investing in another plant on the Isle of Wight, but the problem is due to the factory losing money.

"I understand that the Scottish (Government's] Highlands and Islands Enterprise met the company and those who are trying to find other potential occupants of the site. I will endeavour to find out what I can do to help in this instance."

Mr Reid said that he was "encouraged" by the Prime Minister's offer of help.

Vestas believes it can meet the need for towers from its factories in Denmark.





The full article contains 239 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

PJ07,

23/10/2008 01:04:17
I was listening and El Gorgo actually said ,"the Scottish Administration."

He can't bring himself to use the word Government. Even in his rant abouit the banks he talked of an Administration rather than an independent government.

The man is a total loon. Can a PM be sectioned?
2

Quisling Gogs,

23/10/2008 02:48:26
Scotland is the potential renewables capital of Europe yet Gogs is determined that Scotland won't have a renewables industry.
In England you get paid for puting renewable energy on the grid yet with Gogs's scorched earth economic policies up here the producer has to pay to do the same.
3

donald,

glasgow 23/10/2008 05:29:11
Why? Does Brian Windy Wilson have a stake in the company?
4

Guga II,

Rockall 23/10/2008 06:33:18
Roll on November the 6th.
5

Dave,

Western Isles 23/10/2008 07:52:23
Eh? I didn't see him step in when Arnish folded, three times!

What a fool. He admited we are in a recession yesterday, how on earth is he going to save this company? Throw printed money at it like he did the banks?
6

subrosa,

23/10/2008 08:51:32
# 5

Jings I thought I was reading a post by AM2 there.
7

subrosa,

23/10/2008 08:54:16
This is a different angle to what we were told a couple of months ago about this business.

Then we were told that the facilities weren't suitable for upgrading to the new type of turbines and the present turbines were no longer used as they were dated.

Now it's purely finance and nothing to do with the product not being suitable. Technology is moving very fast and companies like Vespas should have been on top of their game.
8

Unimpressed one,

23/10/2008 09:02:26
"Campaigners believe the closure is perverse at a time both the Westminster and Holyrood governments want to see a huge increase in onshore and off-shore energy from renewable sources such as wind power.2

The only perversion here is to prop up an ailing foreign company producing something that will only push up power bills. Let it go to the wall.
9

WSS,

sandbach 23/10/2008 12:47:17
What is the amount of money required to keep this factory working? Does it come anywhere near the money invested in the banks? I heard Brown's answer at PMQ's and don't hold your breath if you think that the PM will come up with a solution. Move the plant to Glenrothes and watch the money pour in. I wonder why!
10

Saoghal Beag,

23/10/2008 13:44:18
sm753, wrong and right but as ever trying to muddy the water. the costs cahrged for use of the national grid as determined by ofgem has nothing to do with the generation technology and everything to do with location.

the current subsidies for renewable energy, and wind in particular, reduce the payback period of investment from 5/6 years to 3/4 years, really not a bad return in current financial climate.
11

Saoghal Beag,

23/10/2008 16:53:27
#13 what you said was "In England you get paid for puting renewable energy on the grid....." and then went on to witter on about renewable subsidies not associated with grid charges. You also get paid for supplying coal, gas or nuclear generated power to the grid in the same area.

as for the reference to simple supply demand economic in the case of our power markets that is a complete fallacy. There is virtually no correlation between the price paid for fuel and the price charged by the customers something that ofgem are wholly responsible for allowing. something that is forcing families into fuel poverty.
12

EnglishHighlander,

23/10/2008 17:17:46
Nuclear power it is, then!
13

Saoghal Beag,

23/10/2008 18:02:10
15 once you find somewhere to put the waste, and pay for that.
14

Darien,

Panama 22/11/2008 11:34:28
Broon says: " I will endeavour to find out what I can do to help...". That means the place is as good as shut - kiss of death. Just like Broon "saving HBoS" really means losing 40,000+ jobs in Scotland. NewLab voters in Glenrothes need our sympathy, and fogiveness, for their abject stupidity. Broon would probably rather help the wind turbine plant on Isle of Wight than Kintyre (the latter hardly likely to ever be a New Lab constituency), such is the way the Quislings play the wider BritNat political agenda. Union dividend my a**e.

 

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