Trump Pits Economy against Sustainability
By Hayley Toler on August 15, 2011 1:21 PM | Comments (0)
Vattenfall, one of Europe’s leading energy companies and supplier of electricity and heat, and Technip, an engineering and construction company for the energy industry, are being opposed by Donald Trump on their 11-turbine wind farm project off Aberdeen Bay, off the northeast coast of Scotland.
The proposed $243 million European Offshore Wind Deployment Center is also being fought by anti- wind power groups, who argue that turbine noise and vibrations disrupt the inner ear system, which may lead to nervousness, nausea, tachycardia (increased heart rate) and sleep disturbance. Germany is looking into soundproofing underwater construction sites to protect whales from the noise, according to Clean Technica.
According to Concerned About Wind Turbines (CAWT), a group of Aberdeenshire residents who are concerned about the rapid proliferation of wind turbines in the area, each of the 18 holes at Trump’s the championship course have been designed to offer dramatic views of the North Sea as players weave their way through the site’s sand dunes. The approximately 394 foot wind turbines, at low tide, stand in the way of Trump’s vision of a Scottish seaside haven.
Trump Organization LLC released a separate statement on August 5 saying it opposed the wind farm site and would fight the proposal that is now subject to a formal consultation and decision process. Trump is planning a $1.6 billion golf complex including a hotel, golf academy and an upscale residential community on 1,400 acres along the Scottish coastline, reports the Guardian.
“When I saw this piece of land I was overwhelmed by the imposing dunes and rugged Aberdeenshire coastline. I knew that this was the perfect site for Trump International – Scotland. I have never seen such an unspoiled and dramatic sea side landscape and the location makes it perfect for our development. Our site is close to two of the world’s most famous courses and is just 15 minutes by car from Aberdeen Airport.” – Donald Trump from the Trump International National Golf Links Website.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) objected to the project on the grounds that the sand dune systems on the Menie Estate, purchased by Trump in 2006, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), would be disturbed. The planning inspectors ruled that any potential damage of the sand dunes caused by the golf course would be substantially outweighed by its value to the economy. Despite the possible environmental impacts, the 1,400 local and permanent jobs and golf tourism that it will bring is a welcome boost to the local economy, reports Earth Times.
But green media cites past moves from Trump as anti-environmentally friendly, striking down his opposition as short-sighted.
Huffpost Green mentioned that last year, The Washington Post found that Trump’s employees chopped down hundreds of trees at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C. Mark Haynes, an Arlington energy consultant, said, “They replaced the trees with a huge flagpole with the American flag flying up there. Which struck me as sad. It’s kind of in-your-face now.”
Only time, committee hearings, and excessive lobbying will tell who will win this duel for coastal construction.
