Wind Sites Scotland Artfield Fell Wind Farm Extension Dumfries and Galloway A planning application has been lodged to extend the existing Artfield Fell Wind Farm by a further 7 turbines. The extension lies immediately to the west of the current site and is centred on the adjoining fell Balmurrie Fell. The proposal consists of 7 turbines of nominally 1.3MW capacity giving an overall installed capacity for the whole project of 28.6MW. The design envelope for the new turbines is for a maximum rotor diameter of 62 metres and a maximum tip height of 80metres. These turbines will be connected to the main wind farms electricity network by underground cable and then connected to the substation at Glenluce by the existing wooden pole over head line. No new grid connection lines are required The proposed site extends over an area of around 1km of higher elevation ground with a nominal height of between 200 and 240m above sea level (asl). The land use consists of rough grazing for sheep.     A full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken which has included Landscape and Visual, Ecological, Archaeological, Hydrology, Geology and Noise Assessments for the wind farm extension. The assessments have been compiled into an Environmental Statement (ES) which was submitted accompanying a planning application for the wind farm in June 2009. In November 2009 the local planning committee unanimously approved the planning application. The only objection, received from Historic Scotland, was withdrawn in December 2009. Construction of the extension is expected to commence in the last quarter of 2010 and commercial operation scheduled for mid 2011. A non technical summary for the wind farm can be downloaded here.