Island wind-turbine factory project set to create 80 jobs JOHN ROSS
EIGHTY jobs are expected to be created in the new year when work starts again at a wind- turbine manufacturing base in the Western Isles. The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network has agreed terms with Camcal, formerly Cambrian Caledonian, to lease the former oil-fabrication yard at Arnish, near Stornoway, as part of a multi-million-pound project to establish an operation producing steel towers and other equipment for the renewables industry.
Wind giant sets course for 10 per cent growth
SPANISH wind power firm Gamesa has said it expects net profit to fall four per cent in 2005 but to turn around after that and grow at more than ten per cent a year. Net profit is expected to come in at £150 million next year, which is lower than this year because no one-off windpark sales are included in the forecast. In 2004, the firm booked £18.22m in one-off profit.
http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=605&id=1375252004
Green power will be hit by rates system, claims electricity industry
JAMES REYNOLDS, ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT
PROPOSED rate changes for electricity-generating companies to be announced by the Executive today amount to a "stealth tax" on householders’ domestic bills, and will unfairly penalise the growing renewables industry north of the Border, according to industry representatives.
Previously, industry sector rates were considered and decided by the Executive under a scheme known as prescription. However, with the introduction of a policy to end this method of taxation, the rates of industries will, from next April, be set by the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA).
http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=605&id=1404132004
Wind farms add to crisis for diving
SHARON WARD
SCOTLAND’S rapid expansion of offshore wind farms and a rejuvenated North Sea oil industry have led to skill shortages, including an urgent demand for commercial divers. With as many as 200 windmills set to appear in Scottish waters to meet increasing energy demands, the provision of divers for maintenance and servicing work will also come directly from the North Sea oil and gas sector, putting pressure on an already depleted diving community.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=1412402004
