LOCAL BENEFITS
At each project RES designs, constructs and operates, our goal is to ensure that we create significant environmental, economic and community benefits at the local and global scale.
Economic Benefits:
The construction and operation of our wind farms have a positive effect on the economy. Short to medium-term jobs will be created during the construction period (usually around a year) and we will be looking for local and regional businesses that can provide the following people, services and materials: civil engineering, haulage, concreting, security and electrical skills, etc. There will be additional benefits to other businesses in the area, such as hoteliers.
RES has a track record of using local contractors, this ensures commercial benefits are realised locally and it would be RES's intention to continue this policy at Solwaybank. For example, in constructing the Dun Law Wind Farm in the Scottish Borders, a Jedburgh based contractor was employed.
Social Benefits:
Our operating renewable energy projects attract interest from locals and visitors alike and are a useful educational resource, assisting in raising awareness of climate change and clean energy solutions among the local and wider community. In particular, RES engages with schools and young people, civic organisations and professional groups to help raise awareness of the role renewable energy plays in tackling climate change.
RES offers educational opportunities for young people of all ages through its Young Energy education programme. As part of this programme, we are able to arrange independent educational provision on climate change and energy for schools near to our projects. Some schools choose to follow the progress of a wind farm application as a project for their students. Wind farms offer learning opportunities across a whole range of Scottish Curriculum from social studies to sciences, expressive arts and technologies. Please contact Rachel. if you would like further information or resources.
If you are a member of local a group such as the Scouts, Guides, Rotary, SWRI, Young Farmers, etc. or work for a local company, and would like us to come and give you a presentation on the wind farm please feel free to contact us.
Community Fund:
RES is particularly keen to see local communities benefiting from wind farms and for this reason, we offer significant community funds which allow local people to benefit from the wind farm's profits. It is up to the local community as to how the funds are managed and spent, and this is something which we will be consulting on in the coming weeks and months.
The precise mechanism through which the money will be managed will be identified through consultation. We generally prefer that the money is used to bring local environmental benefits and we are particularly keen to see it spent on improving energy efficiency, but ultimately this will be down to the local community to decide. The people who benefit the most from the fund should be those living closest to the wind farm.
We would encourage anyone with a view on how the community fund should be managed or spent to discuss this with us at any time during the planning process. It is important to note that the offer of a community benefit fund will not affect the decision to grant planning permission for the project as it is not a planning matter.
Community funds are operating successfully at other RES wind farms in the UK. For example, at Altahullion Wind Farm in Northern Ireland, the fund has been spent on the creation of a new community riverside pathway and footbridge, entertainment activities for family fun days, summer schemes for local children, and the maintenance and running of community buildings. At Black Hill Wind Farm, in the Borders, the fund has been used to prevent a local nursery school from closing. At Forss Wind Farm, in the Highlands the fund has been spent on the erection of Christmas lights, swimming training camps, sports equipment for the local beaver group and educational trips for students.