Scottish Executive records shown to Scotland on Sunday reveal that on every occasion to date where officials have been called on to decide on a wind farm proposal, it has been swept through, triggering claims the that government is "biased" in favour of the new schemes.

The decisions have resulted in several major new wind farms getting the go-ahead, including the Cairn Uish development in Moray, Hadyard Hill wind farm in south Ayrshire and the Black Law wind farm in the Scottish Borders.

Ministers have set a target to source 40 per cent of energy in Scotland from renewable sources by 2020, with most of that expected to come from wind power.

Experts expect about 70 wind farms to be erected across the country in the next few years as the government attempts to meet its plans.

Critics now claim that in the drive for green energy, officials are not being properly rigorous in planning.

Under recent guidance issued by ministers, planning officials who decide on wind farms are now instructed to make "positive provision for such (renewable) developments" in order that targets can be met.

Furthermore, unlike with other local developments such as housing, planning applications for wind farms which produce in excess of 50 megawatts, go direct to the Executive and not to local authorities.

Leading planning lawyer John Campbell QC, better known for his role in the recent Holyrood inquiry, last night said the current regulations were unjustified.

"If you propose a plant in excess off 50 megawatts that means that the decision is made by the Scottish Executive energy division and not local authorities.

"And when you look at the energy division you find an office in Glasgow staffed no doubt by honourable civil servants, whose job it is to prosecute the policy of renewables and the policy of growing the windpower stations on shore."

He added: "It can't be right that the same people who are charged with the job of putting policy into practice are also making decisions. It's judge and jury."

The campaign against wind farms in Scotland reaches new heights this week as the candidates from the group Scottish Windwatch put themselves forward for the European elections.

The group claims that more than 200 wind farms are set to be built across Scotland and are focusing their campaign on the Western Isles, where there are plans to build 600 wind turbines on Lewis and Harris, which are recognised internationally as important wildlife and bird habitats.

Party convener Brendan Hamill said: "These projects will not fix global warming, or even have any measurable effect on carbon dioxide levels. They are being promoted solely to boost the massive profits of the wind-power industry with subsidies which are being taken straight out of the pockets of electricity consumers."

Hamill pointed to statistics from Denmark, which has more than 6,000 wind turbines, and produces 15 per cent of its electricity from wind, yet has seen carbon dioxide levels rise by 10 per cent between 2002 and 2003.

The anti-wind farm lobby also claims that wind turbines only produce electricity for one day in three - and therefore do not remove the need for traditional and more reliable fossil fuel power stations to continue.

The claims are denied strongly by pro-wind campaigners, who insist that wind power can provide a nation like Scotland with a reliable electricity source.

Maf Smith, chief operating officer for Scottish Renewables, the body which represents the major windpower companies in Scotland, said: "They say for example that wind power wouldn't reduce carbon levels, which isn't the case.

"And while the anti lobby claims there are going to be 200 wind farms, there are actually 200 applications and we are only looking at around 70 developments."

Smith also defended the planning process. "There are a lot of checks and balances to ensure that it is properly planned - and while there has so far been a high success rate for wind farm applications, it is unlikely that there wouldn't be any failures," he said.

Officials pointed out the recent decision by ministers to block a controversial hydroelectric power scheme in Wester Ross on environmental grounds.

Deputy enterprise minister Lewis Macdonald said he had blocked the deal because the costs of disrupting an area of such natural significance "outweighs the potential benefits".

However, campaigners are equally protective of other wind farm site proposals, such as a new site in Causeymire, Caithness, a historic blanket peat bog used by local people for fires for hundreds of years.

The campaigners are now calling on ministers to invest more in off-shore wind power, and wave and hydro power, which they claim is far more efficient.

Campbell added: "I am mystified as to why the Scottish Executive are in the grip of the wind campaigners when they must know very well that this is a useless plan."

"I am depressed that it appears unable to think for itself, and not see the energy potentials in hydro, tidal and wave and off- shore wind," he said.

A spokesman for the Executive said: "Before arriving at a determination, the Scottish Executive conducts a comprehensive consultation process encompassing local authorities, government agencies and members of the public."

Ministers only grant consent where they are of the view that the proposal is consistent with land use policy and the developer has exercised sound environmental stewardship."