Wind farm benefits urged for neighbours

A report published today by the York-based Joseph Rowntree Foundation has analysed ways in which negative impacts on communities from the renewable energy schemes can be redressed.

Academics stressed urgent action is needed to ensure growing wind farm expansion is matched by help for neighbouring communities. The report has said that a mechanism for deals between developers and local residents to ensure community benefits must be put in place now – before the next wave of investment takes place.

The study has claimed this can be achieved through the provision and expansion of community benefit funds to help improve the economic, social and environmental prospects of areas affected by wind farms.

Dr Richard Cowell, the report’s author who is based at Cardiff University, said the funds are particularly important in disadvantaged rural and coastal regions, where the majority of wind farms have been built.

He said: “What we would like to see is those living near wind farms having locally-embedded energy and jobs, as well as money to fund other community goals and schemes. Community benefit funds should go beyond trying to foster acceptance of schemes. They should be provided out of fairness, particularly in disadvantaged areas where wind farm development is often concentrated.”

The report acknowledged there has been a growing benefit to communities from wind farms, but said more needs to be done. It states wind farms in the 1990s provided on average a community benefit fund of £10,000 per annum to the parish council or a local development trust from 10 megawatts (MW). A typical wind farm might now exceed 30MW, and pay between £30,000 per annum to £150,000 per annum in community benefit.