A walking and climbing group representing 9000 people in Scotland, UK, has launched a campaign to block a US$10.1M project to build a hydroelectric scheme in a picturesque part of the Highlands by Dundee-based Highland Light and Power (HLP).
The company submitted a new application this month to develop the scheme in Shieldaig Forest in Wester Ross. Under the plans a small weir would be built at each of the Badachro and Kerry rivers, supplying 3.55MW of electricity to the national grid – enough to power more than 5000 homes.
The proposals were strongly opposed when put forward initially in 1996 and led to a public inquiry the following year. However, the developer withdrew in 2000 before the inquiry result was announced.