Hebridean Energy respond to
Stòras ‘newsletter’

Hebridean Energy respond to Stòras ‘newsletter’

Calum MacMillan, director of Hebridean Energy Ltd, the South Uist-based energy company that holds the rights to the majority of the grid capacity for the Uists and Barra, has responded curtly to Stòras Uibhist’s latest newsletter to its members, hinting that the community company had broken commercial confidentiality by publishing in full a letter it sent to his energy company last Saturday (7 Aug).

Mr MacMillan’s letter asserts that Stòras Uibhist were made a ‘generous offer’ of a ‘ full grid connection for free’ in February 2010. Such an offer would have given the community company the necessary capacity for their Loch Carnan windfarm development to proceed without delay. Scottish and Southern Energy, who regulate connections to the national grid had previously hinted that, should a deal be agreed between the Uist parties, they would be willing to immediately grant Stòras Uibhist the grid connection that was denied them earlier this year.

Mr MacMillan is now requesting that Stòras Uibhist respond to his offer by tomorrow, Wednesday 11^th August.

The stalled negotiations mean that Hebridean Energy Ltd remain in control of 10MW of the Uist and Barra energy capacity – which totals 14MW – while the Stòras plans are unable to proceed without access to the grid.

Mr MacMillan’s letter to Stòras Uibhist is reproduced in full below:

10^th August 2010

Dear Sirs

South Uist Estate Grid Connection Offer

I made a generous offer to South Uist Estate on 17^th February 2010, which gave you full grid connection for free.
You have not replied to my offer for six months.
I attended a meeting on 4^th August to get a reply to my offer of 17^th February 2010.
I hope to receive your reply to my offer on Wednesday 11^th August.

Yours faithfully

Calum Mac Millan