Community Cooperation in Action at Renewables Collective Coffee Morning
Renewables developers came together for a first of its kind collaborative coffee morning in Strathdearn on Saturday 30th November. The unique initiative, hosted by the companies behind the five proposed wind farms in the area, was designed to help the community to further their engagement with the plans and explore how the community benefits, combined, could be utilised to deliver social and economic benefits locally.
More than twenty residents attended the event across the course of the morning. Every attendee had the opportunity to attend stalls hosted by developers Fred. Olsen Renewables, Galileo Empower, Wind Estate, ESB/Ampyr Energy and RES. In addition, SSEN Transmission was in attendance and on hand to answer further questions.
This collaborative effort is a one-of-its kind and a direct response to community feedback. By working together, the event also helps to support the ambitions of the Scottish Government Onshore Wind Sector Deal – a series of commitments from the Scottish Government and the onshore wind industry making sure that onshore wind is brought forward whilst delivering maximum benefit to Scotland.
Reflecting upon the success of the event, Fiona Milligan of Highland Wind Farm, commented:
“We really appreciate residents coming out and attending the community coffee morning. We hope that it helped them access the information that they need and feel further involved in the proposed developments in the area.
“This event really is just the tip of the iceberg. We believe that by working together wherever possible we can generate true value locally – helping to address topics and deliver gain in areas such as biodiversity, traffic and transport, community benefit, as well as supply chain and economic benefit.”
Local resident, Yvonne Crook, added:
“This event was a fantastic opportunity for residents to engage with the developers in the same place at the same time. It was really useful to receive an overview of all developments and have the opportunity to speak to everyone individually and collectively with some really good discussion around the transition to a sustainable energy future.
“As an area which is home to a number of wind farm proposals, this a very good use of our time and we are delighted to see this level of cooperation happen. Long may it continue.”