SOME MORE INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND BENEFITS

Wind farm developments can provide specific benefits for local people. Typically these are delivered through funds managed by the Community Council, a community trust or by Highland Council. An annual contribution is paid to the fund by the development at an amount per MW of rated capacity. Current levels of such funds are up to £2,000/MW, which would lead to a fund of up to £150,000 per annum (index linked) for the Spittal project, with its proposal of 30 x 2.5mw turbines. A questionnaire has been sent to local households to identify how such a fund could be spent. Ideas for structuring benefits include:-

• Annual payment to Community Council for local projects
• Establishment of a Community Trust managed by local people
• Community ‘owns' one or more turbines which fund local projects
• Local people are offered shares in the development and receive annual dividends.

Questions to consider in this case would include the definition of “community”, the purposes towards which the funds should be put, and, whether the wider Caithness area should benefit from wind farm developments within the County.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise give examples of how they can assist communities on their web-site at www.hie.co.uk/community-energy.html . Highland Council also gives information on community benefit on their web-site at www.highland.gov.uk . A further example of community involvement in wind farms can be viewed on the website of Energy 4 all which is a company set up to assist with co-operative ownership of wind farms. The address is www.energy4all.co.uk and is well worth a look.

The economy, and hopefully the local economy, will benefit from the fabrication and construction work. Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd is particularly keen to see local companies gain contracts where possible and ongoing maintenance will result in a need for skilled local staff to maintain turbines. Highland Council is also proposing that the proportion of local input involved will become a condition of planning.

At a National and Regional level, wind farms help to boost the economy through tax payments on any profits and also through business rates. These could contribute significant sums for the lifetime of the projects. For example, even taking current typical local authority rates, a development the size of Spittal Hill would contribute around £400,000 per annum, and rates on wind farms are set to increase substantially in the near future.

At a global level, wind farms contribute towards UK Government and Scottish Executive targets for Renewable Energy production and Kyoto Treaty obligations. Globally, over time, the reduction in carbon emissions will become significant, setting an example to emerging economies. China and India are joining the growing band of Nations embracing wind power whilst most European countries now have a wind farm programme with Germany, Denmark and Spain deriving significant power generation from the wind.

Wind farms, therefore, have the potential to contribute at a number of different levels. Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd is very keen to encourage community involvement in their proposed development, and would be interested in exploring any of the suggestions above, or others which you may have. You may contribute ideas by making a comment on this website or by emailing

In order to register your interest in being involved in the project please click here