Public invited to share views on SSEN Transmission's proposed major electricity network upgrade between Peterhead and Beauly
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MEMBERS of the public are invited to share their views on plans for a major new electricity network upgrade between Beauly and Peterhead at a series of public consultation's taking place this month.
The proposed project, which will involve building a new 400Kv overhead electricity transmission line connection between Beauly, Blackhillock, New Deer and Peterhead has been identified as essential for delivering the UK Government's 2030 targets for offshore wind.
Commenting on the project, Catherine Swan, SSEN Transmission senior development project manager said: “The Beauly to Peterhead project has been identified as essential to support Government targets and will be key to unlocking renewable energy generation in the north of Scotland, enabling clean electricity to be transmitted to areas of demand across the county.
"The project will also help deliver against Government’s plans to secure energy independence and energy security by enabling the growth in low carbon, homegrown power, reducing the country’s dependence on, and price exposure to, volatile global wholesale gas markets."
SSEN Transmission is inviting members of the public to share their views on the project at one of their eight in-person public consultation events this month.
The drop-in sessions will allow members of the public will be able to view key project information about the proposals, along with the opportunity for members of the community to ask questions to the project team and share any feedback they have.
Feedback from this consultation and further studies will then help inform the more refined route selection, which SSEN Transmission expects to consult on in spring 2023.
The drop-in public consultation events will be held between 2-7pm at the following locations:
Monday, September 19– Beauly – Kilmarnock Hall A831, Beauly, IV4 7AG
Tuesday, September 20 – Inverness – Kingsmill Hotel Culcabock Rd, Inverness IV2 3LP
Wednesday, September 21– Forres, Town Hall, High St, Forres, IV36 1PB
Thursday, September 22 – Elgin – UHI Moray College, Moray St, Elgin IV30 1JJ
Monday, September 26– Keith – Longmore Hall, Banff Road, Keith, AB55 5ET
Tuesday, September 27– Turriff – Baden Powell Centre, Baden Powell Road, Turriff, AB53 4FA
Wednesday, September 28– New Deer Public Hall, Fordyce Terrace, New Deer, Aberdeenshire, AB53 6WE
Thursday, September 29– Peterhead – Balmoor Stadium, Lord Catto Park, Peterhead, AB42 1EU
Ms Swan added: “Our plans are still in the early stages of developing and as a stakeholder-led business, we would encourage anyone with an interest in the project to attend one of our consultation events later this month to learn more about the proposals, meet the project team and share feedback for consideration.
"This feedback will help inform the more detailed routeing stage of the development process and we look forward to meeting with interested stakeholders throughout September.”
