PNE WIND UK – Larbrax Wind Farm Overview of Community Benefit Fund July 2014
Larbrax Wind Farm Proposal •
The Larbrax Wind Farm site is located on the western coast of the Rhins Peninsula in Wigtownshire.
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The proposed layout consists of 8 wind turbines with maximum tip heights of 100m.
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A planning application was submitted to Dumfries & Galloway Council on 1st July 2014.
Site Location & Proposed Infrastructure Layout
Community Benefit Fund
• PNE Wind will make annual donations throughout the lifetime of the wind farm of £5,000 per megawatt of installed capacity into an index linked Community Fund, which will be managed through the Larbrax Wind Farm Community Trust (LWFCT). •
A one off fee of £1,500 per megawatt of installed capacity will also be paid upon commencement of construction.
• The proposed capacity of Larbrax Wind Farm is 20 megawatts.
Larbrax Wind Farm Community Trust Structure
Larbrax Wind Farm Community Trust • The aim of the Trust is to support any project that provides benefit to the communities in question. • In practice this might mean projects which are charitable, educational, community, environmental, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable development and general community amenity projects, either capital or revenue. Other novel and imaginative projects will also be considered. • Who could apply for funding: – a community led organisation. – a not-for-profit group with charitable aims. – those working in and involving people from the communities of the above four areas, or if outside these areas, the beneficiaries should relate to people living in these areas.
Larbrax Wind Farm Community Trust • To receive money towards a project, local groups must apply for a share of the index-linked £100,000 that is available annually (based on current proposed capacity). • The following activities cannot be supported by the fund: – Any activities adverse to the interests of the wind farm. – Any political or religious campaigns. – Any activities that are a legal & statutory duty of public service providers.
• The Trust will be set up as an independent body and will be responsible for assessing applications and drawing up spending plans.
Larbrax Wind Farm Community Trust
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An even split (20%) of the fund would be allocated to each Trustee. However, PNE is keen for this to be a decision of the Trust members and flexibility should allow for varying degrees of allocation on an annual basis (e.g. some projects to be front-ended depending on application types). The process for assessing applications will be fair and transparent, and the Trust will discuss each application in full before any decision is taken.
Larbrax Wind Farm Community Trust
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The Trust will receive a sum of money to allocate annually. It could consider applications every 3 months and would endeavour to allocate funds equally over the year. The Trust is more likely to be able to allocate funds to larger projects at the beginning of the annual cycle. In the event that there is not sufficient grant left in any one year the Trust may be able to part fund a project in one year with completion the following year or may hold applications over to the following funding year. Multi-year projects will be considered.
Larbrax Wind Farm Community Trust •
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It is expected that cross-border applications will occur and such instances would be considered for joint funding from respective areas. For example, projects which would involve and benefit individuals/groups from both Leswalt & Kirkcolm. PNE is committed to engaging further on how this model is developed & established well in advance of construction.
Further Information For further information please visit our website: www.pnewind.co.uk or our dedicated project website: www.larbraxwindfarm.co.uk Or contact us at:
[email protected] Ciorstaidh Couston Community Engagement Coordinator Gemma Hamilton Project Manager PNE WIND UK Ltd 38 Thistle Street Edinburgh EH2 1EN Tel: 0131 243 9100
