This morning, the UK’s Supreme Court ruled against Donald Trump in his latest legal battle against the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC).
Donald Trump challenged the approval for the offshore wind project, given by Scottish ministers, arguing that the offshore wind farm would ruin the view from his Aberdeen golf resort. After losing a couple of times in the Scottish courts , the Trump Organization decided to file a lawsuit against the EOWDC to the UK’s Supreme Court , saying that it was “impossible to have a fair hearing” in Scotland.
Andy Paine , Project Director and Head of Offshore Development, BA Wind, Vattenfall, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision: “This is another significant step forward for the EOWDC. It affirms the scheme’s potential to position Scotland, and particularly the North-east, as a centre of innovative offshore wind power. The project partners remain committed to seeing the EOWDC come to fruition and delivering long-term economic benefits to the region.”
According to Vattenfall, Trump has made it clear that he will not proceed with his intention of building a luxury hotel and second golf course at Balmedie if the EOWDC is not stopped.
Commenting on the verdict, energy and planning partner at legal firm Pinsent Masons, Gary McGovern , said: “Donald Trump will be hoping he has more success at the US ballot box than he does in the Courts.
“In pursuing a weak argument described previously in the Court of Session as “fallacious”, this case has perpetuated a lingering doubt over longstanding legal principles, and that has been to the detriment of the whole energy industry. Developers will therefore breathe a sigh of relief and it is hoped that this and other projects affected can now gather pace, without the threat of costly legal challenges and delays on similarly dubious grounds hanging over them.”
The EOWDC is a joint venture between Vattenfall and the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG). The 11-turbine scheme, located off the Aberdeen coast, will have an installed capacity of up to 100MW.
Offshore WIND Staff