Limekiln community benefit fund of £540,000 a year will ‘help the area thrive’
The newly opened Limekiln wind farm will generate more than half a million pounds a year in community benefit from 2026.
The sum being made available is £540,000 a year, index-linked over the 40-year life of the wind farm. The bulk of it will be managed by Caithness Chamber of Commerce to support projects within the Dounreay travel-to-work area.
From that annual pot of money, £50,000 will go directly to the community of Caithness West and will involve a simpler application process.
Caithness West Community Council will be the main beneficiary of this ring-fenced sum, with half of it to be used for community council projects and the remaining £25,000 to be divided equally between four village halls and the Reay Primary School parent/teacher association.
Groups within Caithness West will still be able to apply to the main fund if they are planning larger projects.
The community benefit fund will be in place from April 2026.
Julie Cusson, senior vice-president for Boralex in the UK, said the community benefit fund would “help the area thrive”.
She was speaking at Friday’s official opening of the 106 MW wind farm just to the south of Reay. It comprises 24 turbines with a maximum blade-tip height of 149.9m and has been operational since April 1.
Ms Cusson said: “We are delighted that the wind farm has reached operations and that members of the local community, who did indeed put us through our paces over the years, have come to celebrate its official opening with us.
“Apart from the jobs that the wind farm has supported locally and further afield during construction and going forward in operation, the area will see further benefit when the community benefit fund of £540,000 per year will start up next year.
“While part of the funding will flow directly to the community of Caithness West, the remainder will build on the great work that is being delivered by the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund as well as the Baillie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
“We are grateful to Caithness West Community Council, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and other partners for working with us and we are looking forward to seeing even more projects and initiatives receive the funding they need to help the area thrive.”
Fiona Milligan, who handles communications and stakeholder management for Boralex, said: “I’d like to thank everyone for coming along and supporting us, and very specifically the community who are now working with us going forward.”