GreenPower (Carraig Gheal) Ltd have today announced a community fund which will be worth about £1.6million over the 25 year life span of the Wind Farm. The 20 turbines are located around the summit of Carraig Gheal in an area approximately 8km west of Kilchrenan, on the north-west side of Loch Awe. Payment to the community fund will total £46,000 every year for the next 25 years and it is envisaged that it will be used to support a variety of projects.
A consultation process to help determine the most appropriate options for the delivery of the fund to surrounding communities will take place during December and January. The consultation process will be managed by a process of liaison with community councils and other local stakeholders.
The Carraig Gheal Wind Farm has been under construction during 2012 and will be switched on and generating electricity in Spring 2013. Payments into the community fund will commence during the first year of operation and will be index linked in subsequent years to keep pace with inflation.
John Morgan, Director of GreenPower said, "As construction of the wind farm enters the final phases it's a good time to focus on the positive legacy the project will leave behind. We are pleased to be able to offer this fund so that communities with a connection to the wind farm can benefit and we will be consulting over the next couple of months to look at the best model for delivering the fund.”
Notes to editors
Contact- Mark Ruskell, Ruskell Communications - 07585 220872
Carraig Gheal Wind Farm - www.carraigghealwindfarm.co.uk
- Developed by Alloa based GreenPower ( http://www.greenpowerinternational.com) the project is 50% owned by GreenPower and 50% by the Ampere Equity Fund (managed by Triodos Investment Management).
- Main contractors C.A. Blackwell (Contracts) Limited for civil and electrical works, Siemens Wind Power supply and install the turbines.
- Situated North of Loch Awe above Inverinan Forest (Site Grid Ref NM 97 21).
- 46 MW capacity from 20 turbines at 2.3MW capacity each.
- Turbine tip heights of 110 and125m.
- Construction on the site began in 2011, with first turbines erected in Oct 2012 and an estimated completion date in early 2013.
- The access to the wind farm is taken along the newly constructed, 35km long, West Loch Awe Timber Haul Route, which has been jointly developed with Forestry Commission Scotland to facilitate access to the wind farm site and to serve as a strategic timber haul road, diverting timber traffic off the local C-classed roads.