Community benefit from windfarms

Wind turbines that are built as a private financial enterprise yield no benefit to the community, but when a windfarm is developed and run by a responsible corporation or a local authority, there can be substantial money available for sharing out. Argyll and Bute has just invited anyone living within ten kilometres of the An Suidhe Wind Farm near Inveraray to apply for a slice of a £28,500 grant fund. It’s not just a one-off, either. For the next 25 years, wind farm operator RWE npower renewables will award £28,500 annually, rising in line with inflation, to the An Suidhe Wind Farm Community Fund. The fund’s purpose is to ‘support activities which will enhance quality of life and promote people’s well-being, bring people together and foster vibrant, sustainable communities.’

Councillor Bruce Marshall, Argyll and Bute’s environment spokesperson, urged people to make the most of the opportunity. He said, ‘This fund has the potential to make a significant and lasting impact on the communities it covers, and the chance to secure a share of it is one which should not be missed.’ On the Ayrshire mainland, Ardrossan has benefited considerable from the windfarm just up the hill from the harbour, and Councillor Marshall pointed to the same benefit to inhabitants of Glendaruel and Cairndow.

The Scottish Community Foundation, a grant-making charity, is inviting applications for grants of up to between £250- £7,000. An advisory panel made up of local residents and representatives from the areas will meet regularly each year to make decisions. Smaller awards of less than £250 can be made through a ‘micro’ grants scheme administered by each of the community councils serving the area.

Kathryn Harries, UK Community Investment Officer at RWE npower renewables said: ‘Supporting the communities that surround our developments is an integral part of our business. We’re delighted the An Suidhe Wind Farm Fund has been launched and we look forward to seeing how the local representatives on the advisory panel decide to spend the fund over the coming months.’

Is Arran missing out? Well, yes, it probably is. You can visit the Scottish Community Foundation website by clicking on the picture below.

Next time we get a windfarm application, we need to ask the right question. ‘Does this benefit Arran?’ If not, turn it down and wait for another applicant who has the community at heart.