Fearn Peninsula Development Trust

Windfarm Benefit Packages

What is the community benefit?

Should the project proceed, there are 3 elements to the community benefit package:-

1. Trust fund
   The developer will give an annual lump sum to a local trust fund, which will be approximately £20000 per annum. This money will be split between the local communities most affected by the development in consultation with Highland Council. Other developments at Novar, Fairburn etc do the same thing.
2. Investment Opportunity
   If there is enough interest from local people, a local co-operative will be set up and this will give the chance for local people to invest in the scheme (subject to minimum investment levels per individual and minimum total investment from such a Co-op). Other projects developed by Falck Renewables have similar Co-ops and they are giving returns of around 6-9% per annum to the investor. The scheme is specifically set up to benefit local investors, not wealthy people from the city. Falck Renewables are the only developer to offer this.
3. Community Turbine
   A community turbine has the potential to contribute over £60,000 per annum for the first 12-15 years and over £200,000 per annum for the remaining 10-13 year life of the wind farms, funds paid into the local community through the FPDT, making a huge difference to the services local communities may offer in the face of local authority cut-backs and perhaps even providing community funds for projects not yet foreseen.
   
   The current offer of a “community turbine” as part of the development does not mean any extra turbines – there will still only be 5 on the hill. The substance of the offer means that one fifth of the pre-tax profits (EBT) of the windfarm will be paid out, regardless of whether one turbine develops a fault or some prove to be more profitable than others. This is the most significant part of the community benefit package being discussed at this stage.