Mackie wind farm scheme victim to cold economic climate

Ice cream entrepreneur fails to scoop up enough investors for green energy company

Entrepreneur Maitland Mackie has been forced to abandon plans to set up a multi-million-pound rural wind farm company after failing to sign up enough investors.
Mackie, 71, said that signing up 580 investors for the project had been “encouraging” but was not enough to allow him to press ahead with plans for a wind power company owned by farmers, landowners and other investors.
It is thought that the company received pledges of around £2.5m towards a target of £10m that was needed under Mackie’s plans to build 30,000 three-megawatt wind turbines across the UK. The turbines would have had the potential to deliver more than a third of Britain's generating capacity.
But Mackie said that at least 3,000 people would have had to commit around £4,000 each to make the project viable. Raising additional cash in the money markets would also be difficult in the present climate.
All money will now be returned to investors.
“We have been reviewing the project in the cold light of the current economic climate and sadly we are of the view that we have to stand the initiative down,” said Mackie.
“It is hugely disappointing to find myself not delivering but I think we have raised awareness of this issue,” he said. “My enthusiasm has not waned but the practicalities have got in the way.”
Mackie, whose Aberdeenshire dairy which makes the famous Mackie’s ice cream is powered entirely by green technology, said he was hopeful that the plan could be resurrected in other forms.
“I think we have raised the understanding of the potential financial gains so that individ-uals and communities can fight for a big share of the cake,” he said.
“I still think it a splendid plan, and hope that some enthusiasts will have a go to put together substantial local schemes.”