TWO wind turbines are to be installed near the Balbardie Sports Centre after West Lothian Council received a grant for the work from the Scottish Government.
The two 35 metre-high wind turbines will now be built at Balbardie Park, Bathgate, after a £71,788 funding grant from the Government's Energy Saving Trust.
The council is providing the rest of the finance for the wind turbines, which have a total
cost of £450,000.
They produce 100KW of energy and aim to provide "green" energy to reduce the electricity supply costs to the existing Balbardie Sports Centre and a proposed new swimming pool. It is estimated that the turbines will be spinning by the end of October.
The installation also includes provision to allow any surplus electricity generated to be fed back into the grid, with the council receiving a credit for the surplus electricity.
Jim Walker, the council's culture and leisure leader, said: "Everyone must look at environmentally friendly ways of generating energy and it is important that we, as a forward-thinking local authority, use alternative sources.
"The turbines have a 'pay back' period of just over 12 years, after which all power provided will be free. The installation of the turbines is a demonstration of the council's ongoing commitment to reduce our energy costs and carbon footprint."
The full article contains 226 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
