Funding of £5.3 million from ScottishPower Renewables benefits Caithness and other areas of the Highlands
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CAITHNESS has contributed to and benefited from funds of over £5.3 million from windfarms operated by ScottishPower Renewables.
Over 1200 projects in the Highlands and Islands have received financial assistance over the past 21 years, including a number in the far north.
The company said the Halsary windfarm, near Spittal provided over £450,000 of funding while Beinn Tharsuinn, north of Alness, has generated over £1.5million. The funds are part of a £60 million package ScottishPower Renewables has awarded to communities across the UK.
A company spokeswoman said the Caithness projects which received money from the funds included Staxigoe and Papigoe Community Hall which was awarded £7500. The money was used to contribute to the installation of insulation and heat pump technology helping reduce the carbon footprint and running costs of the building.
In addition, young people across Caithness benefited from £13,000 of grants to attend residential trips, to travel to compete at Gymfest in Aberdeen and to travel to Bristol to train at The Wave surfing facility.
These projects were supported in the early years of the fund, it was stated.
She said: "A further £42,000 of grants have been awarded by the local funding panels in Watten, Halkirk and Latheron, Lybster & Clyth from their own share of the Halsary Windfarm community benefit fund. Among the schemes supported is the creation of a new development officer, employed by Caithness Voluntary Group, who will support the Halkirk & District and Watten communities to drive forward projects and address local priorities."
According to ScottishPower Renewables, the money comes from its windfarms in the region and aims "to support the continued development of the local area and to support the community to realise their own ambitions." It says it is "committed to being a good neighbour throughout the development, construction and operation of its renewable assets and to ensuring that the benefits of its operational assets are shared locally."
Gillian Arnot, senior stakeholder and community manager at ScottishPower Renewables, said: "The Highlands and Islands has been our home now for the past 21 years and we are so pleased to have played a part, whether big or small, in so many wonderful community initiatives. We’re continually striving to be the best neighbour to our communities given they’re at the heart of what we do, and firmly believe they are best placed to determine how best to use the funds from our developments to drive benefits that mean most to them."
She added: "Renewable energy generation provides vital green, clean electricity that we all need to reach our climate change targets, but it can go further, it can help provide real, tangible support for communities, helping them fund projects that will support their own ambitions and leave a leave a lasting legacy."
