Raera windfarm questionnaire

[Seil Blubber]

1. How much money does the local community get?

2. Is it given directly to the Community Council?

3. Will the 'community' be consulted as to how the money is spent?

4. Could this money be construed as a bribe?

[canUsmellthat]

Why should the local community get anything???

[Seil Blubber]

See question 4.

Community Benefits

npower renewables has delivered a range of community benefits in association with its operating wind farms. These measures benefit those communities living closet to each wind farm and to date have included energy efficiency measures, schools education programmes, local event sponsorships and much more.

A benefits package would be established by npower renewables in relation to the Raera scheme following consultation with local representatives.

( http://www.npower-renewables.com/raera/benefits.asp )

[canUsmellthat]

Well that's hardly a plethora of benefits is it??? I think, in response to your questions, Nothing, No, No & No. They might, however, sponsor a crappy ceilidh in the hall that is blatently too small for the community...

[big man]

1 has the community not had enough handouts

[Seil Blubber]

Windfarm developers regularly provide 'community benefits' in the form of cash handouts, and typically these are delivered through funds managed by the Community Council, a Community Trust or by the Regional Council. In many cases an annual contribution is paid to the fund by the development at an amount per MW of rated capacity; previous levels of funding have been up to £2,000/MW

It is my understanding that some form of cash benefit will be coming our way as a result of this development, hence the original post.