Today, Western Isles Council decided to grant planning permission in principle to build an electricity converter station on the outskirts of Stornoway. The station will be massive, measuring several hundred meters by several hundred meters, rearing up to 27 metres in height. It is required to convert electricity, generated by renewable energy projects across Lewis for transport to the mainland. A sub-sea cable has already been approved; it will have a capacity of 1,800 megawatts. In the 21 years I have been in the island, I have been vocal in my opposition to such on-shore and off-shore schemes. It will have a massive detrimental environmental impact, for one. And the benefit for Lewis will only be short-term, and even the employment may not be locally sourced. And by 2031, we'll be left with an industrial wasteland. I am very disappointed.
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