Maitland Mackie powers ahead with windfarm project

The Sunday Times
December 14, 2008
The ice-cream firm owner is generating support and investment for a plan to build 30,000 wind turbines across the UK
John Penman

When it came to inspiration for his idea to set up a wind-farm company that could plough billions into the rural economy, Maitland Mackie didn’t have to look far.
On a hill on the Rothienorman estate that hosts the dairy where his famous ice cream is made, three wind turbines hum gently in the Aberdeenshire breeze. The towering machines — Vesta V52s dubbed Margaret, Matilda and Mirabel — power the dairy and produce so much energy that Mackie’s has a positive carbon footprint.
“We have one of the best carbon footprints in the world for a business of our size,” said Mackie proudly.
But using wind to make ice cream is one thing; making large amounts of money is quite another.
Since September, when Mackie announced plans to create a company that would install a network of wind generators throughout the country, he has signed up more than 500 interested parties and raised £2.5m towards a target of £10m needed to get the idea off the ground. If successful, the company would be part-owned by thousands of people in the rural community.
Mackie plans a total of 30,000 three-megawatt wind turbines across the UK that would have the potential to deliver more than a third of Britain’s current generating capacity.
His plan comes at time when the UK and Scottish governments have set ambitious targets for generating power through renewables, despite some major wind-power projects being cancelled because the figures didn’t add up. A week ago, Shell, Danish firm Dong Energy and Scottish Power cancelled the £800m Cirrus Array project off the northwest of England after five years and millions of pounds’ worth of investment.
Ambition is obviously not an issue for Mackie. He believes the project has the potential to generate £15 billion for the rural economy — the equivalent of its total output today. In terms of each site, he estimates that as much as £500,000 a year in profits would go to the owner.
“The numbers are big but we have actually been quite conservative in terms of what we think can be generated,” he said.
If his enthusiasm for the plan could be harnessed, Mackie could generate most of the power Britain needs on his own. The 71-year-old chairman of Mackie’s is now embarking on a countrywide roadshow to convince farmers, landowners and politicians of the merits before his self-appointed deadline at the end of January — if he doesn’t reach the £10m target by then, then the idea will fall.
“I am prepared to devote the rest of my life to make it work but not the rest of my life trying to get it off the ground,” he said.
Last week Mackie and his small team of advisers met the Scottish government’s environment and rural affairs directorate, before heading to the Scottish parliament to talk to MSPs. He has a potential chief executive and board in place for early next year and has put an upper limit on the amount an individual can invest to ensure nobody has too much control over how the company is run.
“This is a plan that delivers to stakeholders of the rural community the chance to take substantial initial ownership of the wind-generating potential of its own land and vistas,” said Mackie.
“Why should the big power companies have it all their own way? Instead of getting just £20,000 in rent, landowners could get as much as £500,000 a year. Think of the difference that would make to the rural economy.”
He has ruffled a few feathers and claims some of the big energy players are trying to buy up land to thwart his ambitions. “I understand why people will want to take up those offers but I would urge them to wait to see what we can achieve,” he said.
If he reaches the £10m needed, the hard work will really begin. The project needs hundreds of millions of pounds to be successful. A lot of money is needed up front for the capital costs — an average of £3m per site. Mackie remains unfazed.
“Demand for energy is going up not down and prices are going to remain high,” he said.
“Investors are looking for a safe place to put their money. I have already had people from the City who are keen to invest.”
The biggest hurdle he faces is planning committees. The same rules will apply for each of the turbines planned, and persuading planners of the merits may prove very difficult.
“Changing the planning system is probably the biggest challenge,” he admits. “Wind turbines are a bit like Marmite — you love them or hate them. I think they look beautiful.
“This country faces an energy crisis and our proposal would help tackle that and improve the rural economy at the same time. It would also boost our manufacturing industry at a time when it is facing real problems. All that is surely worth support.”
His arguments sound compelling but he has a short timescale to convince thousands of people of their merits. By the end of next month Mackie will discover whether his plans have a chance of success or are simply blown away in the wind.