Wednesday, October 20, 2010
At the invitation of West Coast
Energy local minister, Rev Baxter has agreed to chair the Devon
Wood Wind Farm Community Liaison Forum for the next six
months. The Forum is being set up to canvass the local
community's views on West Coast Energy's proposed seven turbine
wind farm and to establish how best this wind farm can benefit the
local community.
The Forum will offer no view on the
merits of the planning proposal and instead will be a non partisan
vehicle that will allow all who are interested in the project to
have a say. Crucially the Forum will allow key recommendations to
be made on which communities ought to benefit, by how much and for
what purpose. Moreover, it will allow the best model to be
determined to ensure that the money can pass from West Coast Energy
to the local community in the most sustainable fashion.
The Devon Wood Wind Farm Community
Liaison Forum will formally re-convene in January with two open
community meetings once membership has been openly advertised.
Community groups and residents of the surrounding communities are
being encouraged to join the Devon Wood Wind Farm Community Liaison
Forum in order to discuss the benefits of a community fund for the
local area.
The proposed seven turbine wind
farm could have a significant benefit to the community and put the
area at the forefront of renewable energy practice. West Coast
Energy has proposed contributing £3000 per year for
every megawatt of generating capacity into a Community Benefit
Fund. The seven turbine scheme has a generating capacity of 17.5
mega watts. The annual fund will be £52,500 and over the 25 year
lifespan of the project this will ensure that £1.3m of benefit is
accrued for the local area. West Coast Energy are keen to agree a
community benefit package before a planning determination is taken
to ensure that all within the community can shape this process
locally and that a voluntary agreement can be reached which is
binding on all parties.
Reverend Baxter commented on his
appointment, saying:
"I am happy to make myself
available as an independent chairman for the purpose of ensuring
the voices of local communities surrounding Devon Wood are
heard. My job will be to make sure those proposing the
development are fully aware of the range of views held in
the communities potentially affected by the scheme.
"I will also work to make
sure that if any scheme is approved under Fife Council's
planning process, local communities share fully and fairly in any
benefit which arises. Taking care of local interests as
the potential scheme develops is my central concern as
chair of the Community Liaison Forum."
The planning application was submitted in June and has not
raised any landscape of ecological objections from Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH) or Royal Society for the Protection of Bird (RSPB)
following formal consultations in August and neither National Air
Traffic Services (NATS), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), BAA
Airports nor the Ministry of Defence (MoD) feel the proposal will
have any adverse impact on aviation interests.
Planning and Development Manager
for the Devon Wood Wind Farm proposal, Jonathan Cawley, said:
"We are pleased to be making
good progress on our application and support from environmental and
aviation authorities further emphasises our view that this is an
exceptional site for a wind farm. The positive environmental
contribution will be significant and the seven turbines have been
carefully designed to avoid any conflicts with aviation
interests.
"It is our desire to continue
to engage with local residents and to ensure they have a way to
express their views on the project.
"By maintaining robust and
constructive dialogue throughout the process, we aim to be in a
position to deliver the best possible community benefit
package."
If you would like further
information or would like to join the Devon Wood Wind Farm
Community Liaison Forum please contact Caroline Trainer on 0131 220
0159 or email caroline.trainer@invictapa.co.uk
ENDS
For further comment, please contact
Caroline Trainer at Invicta Public Affairs on 0131 220 0159 or caroline.trainer@invictapa.co.uk
Notes to
Editor
1.
Reverend Richard Baxter, St Kenneth's Church of Scotland, Kennoway,
Windygates and Balgonie
2.
Seven wind turbines are proposed on land at Devon Wood,
approximately 3km north of Kennoway. The turbines would have a hub
height of up to 80m and a blade tip height of up to 121m. Based on
the currently available turbine technology each turbine would be
rated at up to 2.5MW giving an overall capacity of up to
17.5MW.
A comprehensive Environmental
Impact Assessment has been undertaken to assess the impact of the
wind farm on a range of issues including ecology, ornithology,
archaeology and noise. In addition a detailed landscape and visual
impact assessment has also been carried out.
West Coast Energy is
committed to the provision of community benefit and based upon an
installed capacity of 17.5MW the community fund would amount to an
index linked sum of £52,500 per annum for the life of the wind farm
development. The local community would normally access the benefit
via a Community Trust Fund or Local Development Company. However,
another suggestion is to implement a "renewable energy voucher
scheme" whereby some of the benefit would be distributed to local
households located in proximity to the wind farm who would be
eligible to receive a contribution payment or be offered a
discounted tariff with a nominated low carbon energy supplier
towards their annual electricity costs over the operational life of
the wind farm. A further option that was recently raised during the
pre-application consultation was the provision of a community wind
turbine - which is currently being explored. The company is also
eager to hear about any other new ways of utilising the fund and
hopes that members of the public will come forward with innovative
suggestions.
For more information please
contact Jonathan Cawley at West Coast Energy on 01352757604 or jonathan.cawley@westcoastenergy.co.uk
