Who is Scotland’s energy future for? New wind farm proposal near Campbeltown prompts crucial question

He believes that Scotland’s success in renewable energy, which generated 113 per cent of the country’s electricity demand from renewable sources in 2022, means the focus should now be on how new projects are implemented and at what cost to local communities and landscapes.

“The question is no longer whether we can go green,” he said, “it’s how we do it, and at what cost to communities and landscapes.”

He proposes that any major development, particularly wind farms, should be assessed using the ‘Tri-Axis Model’, which asks three fundamental questions: Is it best for society? Is it best for the environment? Is it ethically sound and accountable?

“This is a tool to help navigate complex decisions without leaving people behind,” said Mr MacNaughtae. “It doesn’t reject renewable energy. But it does ask: is this the right project, in the right place, for the right reasons? 

“Right now, that kind of clarity is missing. Instead, we have democratic opacity: decisions made without real input, deadlines hidden behind jargon; environmental shortcuts: projects that meet targets on paper, but ignore local biodiversity or long-term land impact; and corporate momentum: developments pushed forward not by public good, but by global financial backing and investor logic.

“Communities like those in Kintyre are already surrounded by turbines, with the region among the most densely developed onshore wind areas in Scotland. They’ve done more than their share. But still the proposals come, often bigger, often closer. And each time, the burden to respond falls on exhausted locals, while the balance of power sits elsewhere.

“Imagine instead if projects like Meall Mor had to pass the Tri-Axis test. If community voices were not just heard but ethically processed. If reducing energy demand was prioritised alongside supply. If local trust mattered as much as transmission lines.

He added: “This isn’t an abstract exercise. It’s about accountability. It’s about protecting not only landscapes, but public confidence in the idea of transition itself. Because without trust, there can be no just transition.

“Scotland has the numbers. We’ve moved beyond fossil electricity. We’re leading in tidal innovation. We’re capable of great things. But if we keep pushing forward without people, we risk losing everything we claim to stand for.

“The real question now isn’t whether we need renewables. The real question is: Who is this energy future for, and who gets to decide?”

Sarah Kyle, project manager at E Power Ltd, said: “We are at a very early stages of the development process and look forward to engaging with the wider community as our plans progress.”

The pre-application report is available to view on the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit website, using reference ECU00006205.