Back in spring 2024, Iberdrola Scottish Power ran a low key consultation on the possibility of a substation at the back of Blainslie and Woodheads on the Threepwood Estate. An A5 flyer and two afternoon sessions in the Public Hall implied a minor project and some short term disruption. The confusing name, Gala North, successfully threw many local people off the scent of what is actually being proposed.
Scottish Power wants to build a vast substation at the headwaters of the Lauder Burn, next to Threepwood Moss. This would be the central point for six full sized pylon lines. It would also be the connection point for numerous wind, battery and solar farms across the landscape.
So far, Scottish Power has provided minimal information about a substation and two new powerlines that they call cross border connection and dunlaw extension. Scottish Power have failed to inform anyone yet about their plans for a full sized line of pylons from Livingston in West Lothian, to Lauder.
Scottish Power is yet to reveal their options appraisal for siting a major new substation in Lauderdale, despite requests.
Our neighbours down at Eccles have been swamped with BESS battery applications since that substation was enlarged. Now, thanks to a grid connection and relatively cheap land, the rural communities of Leitholm and Eccles are also under siege from data centre developers.
Most of the energy speculations aimed at Lauderdale are dependent on a massive galanorth substation at Threepwood. Longmuir WF and solar, Glenburnie WF, Woodheads solar, Sheepfold battery, Scawd Law WF are all in a co-dependent relationship with the substation idea.
So far Scottish Power have revealed their intentions piecemeal without showing the full impact of the substation and associated powerlines, let alone the rush of additional industrialisation it is supposed to enable across Lauderdale.
When the wind blows, Scotland already generates far more electricity than it can use. Much of that is curtailed at vast expense (£1.8 billion in 2025). Rather than burdening bonnie Scotland with more surplus industrial clutter, it is time to build energy generators close to demand. Save money, save our environment.