RES, a renewable energy company, has refined its plans for a wind farm in Aberdeenshire following extensive feedback from the public. The original proposal for a 17-turbine scheme has been optimized and a unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) has been introduced. The revised design now includes a reduced layout of 16 turbines with heights ranging from 180 to 200 meters.
The company will hold a final round of public exhibitions in the summer of 2023 to showcase the updated design and give locals an opportunity to speak with the project team and provide feedback before the scheme is submitted for planning approval.
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In addition to seeking feedback on the revised design, RES is also inviting suggestions for community initiatives that could form part of the tailored community benefits package. This includes their unique LEDS scheme which could provide an annual discount to the electricity bills of those properties closest to the wind farm.
RES development project manager Gavin Shirley expressed gratitude to the public for their feedback, stating, “We received lots of great feedback from our October 2022 exhibitions, with more than 380 comment forms being submitted to RES providing almost 3,000 comments across a wide range of topics. The largest area of interest was the community benefits that the project could deliver to the local area, followed by landscape and visual considerations.”
Shirley also highlighted the success of RES' LEDS scheme across the UK, stating, “RES' unique LEDS scheme currently benefits over 5,000 properties across the UK and proved a popular potential benefit at our first public events. We would like to again thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts with us on the proposal.”
The wind farm project in Aberdeenshire is a testament to the company's commitment to sustainable energy and the development of innovative community benefit initiatives. As the company moves forward with its plans, it will continue to seek input from the public to ensure that the project is beneficial to the local community and the environment.
