Wind turbines can be positive for wildlife and aesthetically pleasing, according to the body responsible for Scotland’s nature and landscape.
Scottish Natural Heritage chairman Andrew Thin, told Holyrood’s economy, energy and tourism committee that turbines can have both “positive and negative” impacts on the environment.
He said: “We have evidence that windfarms can be positive for certain species and, from some people’s point of view, a well-designed windfarm can be positive in the landscape in aesthetic terms.”
However, he added: “There are some real challenges in this because if we consent to badly-designed windfarms, public concern will rise faster.”
And SNP MSP Mike McKenzie said there is little land “that has not been subject to the effect of mankind”. He asked: “If we are going to stop the evolutionary clock, what date are we stopping it at?”