Developers behind the Spittal Hill Wind Farm in Caithness, Steven and Tom Pottinger, have reached agreement with Watten Community Council over local community ownership of a turbine.

The 30 turbine wind farm, situated on the eastern flank of Spittal Hill would have an installed capacity of up to 75MW, meeting the average energy needs of some 45,000 households and offsetting the annual release of over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Should it receive planning consent, community ownership of a turbine has the potential to generate c. £50,000 per annum of community benefit in the initial years, with the electricity it produces going to the National Grid to be bought by power companies. This figure will however increase to several hundred thousand pounds per annum thereafter, providing a major local economic boost to the Watten community.

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Turbine ownership was one of the most popular options to deliver community benefit at the exhibition held in December by Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd and is now delighted to be able to deliver on this.

The community council is being advised and supported by Community Energy Scotland (CES) on the setting up of a company to handle community benefit from the turbine. CES is an independent Scottish charity, which actively supports and funds community groups throughout Scotland to develop sustainable energy projects

Jim Macdonald, Chairman of Watten Community Council commented: “Turbine ownership will provide a positive benefit to the local community and inject much needed investment locally should planning permission for the wind farm be granted. We look forward to continuing to work with Community Energy Scotland and Spittal Hill Wind Farm on delivering the considerable benefits arising from this.”

Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd has already signed a memorandum of understanding with AOC Archaeology Group for the development of an experimental archaeological centre within the Spittal area of Caithness.

Should it receive planning consent the wind farm will contribute financially to support an Archaeological Research Centre (ARC) which highly-respected organisation, AOC Archaeology Group, is proposing with members of the local Spittal community. Consistent with a network of other heritage projects in the county, the ARC could not only provide much-needed local employment, but will give a significant boost to the Caithness economy, increasing tourist visits and “bed nights” within the area.

(GK)