A CLAIM that Kennedy Renewables withheld a report showing that the turbines at their Little Raith Wind Farm would cause a build up of benzene has been refuted by the company.

Lochgelly campaigner James Glen and Scotland Against Spin spokesperson, Linda Holt, made the claims and have asked SEPA and Fife Council to investigate predictions by the compilers of the report that benzene, from the Mossmorran Petro-chemical complex, would build up around the turbines.

As a planning condition of the existing Little Raith Wind Farm, air quality monitoring of benzene levels pre- and post construction was requested. This was due to concerns raised by the local community over the potential for increased benzene concentrations as a result of disturbance of air patterns caused by the wind turbines. The interim results showed that benzene concentrations had not increased since the installation of the wind farm and levels were well below typical rural outdoor concentrations. This was stated in the Scoping Report for the Little Raith Wind Farm Extension.

Fichtner were commissioned to investigate the likelihood of interactions between the emissions from the Mossmorran works and the consented Little Raith Wind Farm.

Jonny Kennedy, Managing Director of Kennedy Renewables, said, “There are clear conditions placed on us as the developer in relation to the air quality monitoring for Little Raith wind farm. “Benzene is a pollutant emitted from Mossmorran and the conditions stated that we must monitor the level of benzene for six months before construction of Little Raith Wind Farm and 12 months after construction, in two separate locations. We exceeded these conditions by monitoring benzene levels for the period of 12 months prior to building the wind farm, and in three separate locations instead of two. “The interim results of the monitoring showed that benzene concentrations had not increased since the installation of the wind farm and levels were well below typical rural outdoor concentrations. This was stated in the Scoping Report for the Little Raith Wind Farm Extension.” He added, “Fichtner were commissioned to investigate benzene and the conclusions were summarised in the Scoping Report for the Little Raith Wind Farm Extension. The Scoping Report was used to scope the assessments required for the Environmental Statement. The Scoping Report concluded that any change in benzene levels as a result of the Wind Farm Extension would not be significant and the requirement to include further investigation with the Environment Statement was scoped out.

“Fife Council did not request that benzene monitoring was included in the Environmental Statement. SEPA are a statutory consultee, and reviewed the Scoping Report. They also did not raise benzene as an issue. No additional surveys were requested of either ground conditions or ambient air quality. As the benzene issue was scoped out of the assessment it was not included in the Environmental Statement”.

Mr Kennedy concluded, “We are disappointed by the misinformation being presented by Mr Glen and the anti-wind group Scotland Against Spin. We take all environmental issues very seriously and would be happy to meet with Mr Glen and Ms Holt to discuss the particular issues they have regarding Little Raith and also to discuss the benefits of wind energy to the environment.

“These allegations are being made without entering into any dialogue and they can only cause unfounded concern for local residents. “Kennedy Renewables has an obligation to manage the wind farm so that the public is not endangered, and we will abide by this at all times, so the community can be assured that there is no risk to them - should one be identified at any time, it will be dealt with immediately.”