Caithness councillor says cheaper energy bills would be better than community benefit funds
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CHEAPER energy bills would be more helpful to Caithness people than community benefit funds from wind farms.
So said Thurso and northwest Caithness Highland councillor, Donnie Mackay, during a discussion about funding from the Halsary wind farm, south of Spittal.
The 15-turbine development, which can generate enough electricity to power almost 20,000 homes, represents a £37 million investment in the Highlands, according to ScottishPower Renewables – the company behind the project. It will also result in a community benefit fund for the area.
Speaking at the most recent meeting of the Castletown and District Community Council, Mr Mackay, said it would help people more if the money from community benefit funds was used to help discount bills for local people at a time of rising energy costs.
He said: "It would be far better if people had cheaper electricity. Everyone in the community would benefit from that."
Community council secretary, Liz Geddes, agreed – as did other members – and said: "That would be a good idea but they will not do that."
ScottishPower Renewables were asked for a comment but had not replied by the time we went to press.
Thurso-based community activist, Alexander Glasgow, who is contesting the Thurso and northwest Caithness Highland Council seat at next month's local government elections, does not think such a discount scheme would work.
He said: "Place-based discount schemes have been investigated but the conclusion was that complex negotiations would be required and involve dedicated staff who'd have to be paid out of the pot. Plus, as many of the funds come from energy producers, effectively they would be paying money to themselves. And why focus on energy firms? Others in the supply chain such as construction firms have benefited immensely."
Mr Glasgow, who claims the Strathy South wind farm scheme is a model to follow for community engagement, added: "Maybe funds could have been constituted differently at the start, but this is where we are at. We have to work with the tools we have."
Earlier, three Castletown community councillors were nominated to be involved on the committee which will help distribute the Halsary community benefit fund.
Vice-chairman, Colin Hossack, treasurer, Gavin Sutherland and member, Bobby Magee, were selected as the community council's representatives. One of the three will attend the meetings which take place about twice a year, it was stated.Three names were put forward so there will be back-up if one person cannot be present.
The Halsary wind farm, which was built to help meet the green energy needs of the Tesco supermarket retailer, was developed as part of a power purchase agreement (PPA), making it the first ScottishPower Renewables wind farm to be built without a government support scheme.
PPAs allow developers to invest in and build new green infrastructure projects while corporate customers get a source of clean energy and a reduction in their carbon footprint.
