U.S.-based energy developer Invenergy has agreed to invest £14 million in community benefit funding over the 35-year operational life of its Pencloe wind farm in East Ayrshire, the company said on Tuesday.
The commitment, formalised through a legal agreement with The 9CC Group, includes an initial £400,000 advance payment, split into two instalments. Of this amount, £70,000 has been allocated specifically to support local apprenticeships.
The first £200,000 instalment has already been used to back local initiatives, including the expansion of the CORE Community Electric Car Club into New Cumnock and the Doon Valley, as well as improvements to facilities at Glenafton FC, New Cumnock Working Men’s Club, and the local bowling club.
“As a long-term partner to the communities we operate in, Invenergy is fully committed to the Cumnock and Doon Valley neighbourhood,” said Stuart Winter, vice president and UK country manager at Invenergy. “We recognise that wind farm benefit funding decisions should be made collectively and democratically by those communities, for their communities.”
The 18-turbine, 81-megawatt Pencloe project will provide £5,000 per MW of installed capacity each year, equating to over £400,000 annually for local causes. The company has also submitted a planning application to add five more turbines, which would increase the total value of the community fund proportionally.
Stephen McCarron, chief operating officer of The 9CC Group, noted that Invenergy had “sought to go beyond industry Good Practice Principles and deliver significant funding for our communities from the outset.”
Alex Baird, chair of The 9CC Group, added: “Invenergy’s commitment to our communities goes far beyond any legal or statutory requirement and will make a huge difference both in terms of creating a lasting legacy and for funding so many of the wonderful local groups who are making a positive difference.”
