It will take nearly 10,000 miles of cable for four offshore transmission lines—far more than existing suppliers could serve up. So Morrish started a cable-supply company to build a factory, with a tower taller than the Washington Monument, in which colossal cables will be lowered as they are coated in insulation.

The factory’s construction near the Scottish village of Fairlie has been delayed several times. Locals are doubtful it will happen.

“It’s a nice area, a scenic area, and you’re going to build a huge factory running 24/7?” said Rita Holmes, a longtime Fairlie resident.

Maybe it's just the infrastructure nerd in me, but a giant tower which produces undersea cables for distributing renewable energy sounds like a cool tourist attraction. They could put big windows on the tower so people can see the cables being made.