Scotland Approves Aberdeen Wind Farm Opposed by Donald Trump

A long-standing conflict between real estate mogul Donald Trump and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is heating up this week, after Scotland signed off on an offshore wind farm's construction near Aberdeen.

Trump has long been opposed to the turbine's construction, claiming it will ruin the view from his nearby golf resort, which overlooks the North Sea.

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"This was a purely political decision. As dictated by Alex Salmond, a man whose obsession with obsolete wind technology will destroy the magnificence and beauty of Scotland," Trump said in a statement. "Likewise, tourism, Scotland's biggest industry, will be ruined. We will spend whatever monies are necessary to see to it that these huge and unsightly industrial wind turbines are never constructed."

The project, which the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre will oversee, will cost $349 million and is estimated to generate enough power for more than 49,000 homes, officials say.

Fergus Ewing, the Scottish energy minister, responded to the criticism.

"Offshore renewables represent a huge opportunity for Scotland; an opportunity to build up new industries and to deliver on our ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction targets," he said. "The proposed European offshore wind deployment center will give the industry the ability to test and demonstrate new technologies in order to accelerate its growth. ... [It] secures Aberdeen's place as the energy capital of Europe," Fergus added.

In 2012, Trump deferred a plan to construct a five-star hotel, 500 homes, and 950 rental apartments at the billion-dollar resort until there is a decision on the proposal to build 11 offshore wind turbines in Aberdeen.

"All over the world [wind turbines] are being abandoned, but in Scotland they are being built," Trump said.

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On Tuesday, Trump confirmed that the project would remain on hold unless the wind turbine proposal was struck down, reports Britain's The Guardian newspaper.

"We will put our future plans in Aberdeen on hold, as will many others, until this ridiculous proposal is defeated. Likewise, we will be bringing a lawsuit within the allocated period of time to stop what will definitely be the destruction of Aberdeen and Scotland itself," Trump said.