A new wind farm fund is being established to provide finance for community-led projects in East Renfrewshire.

The new East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund will replace the existing Whitelee Wind Farm Fund set up in partnership with Scottish Power Renewables in 2007.

It is estimated the new fund will allocate around £165,000 each year to community projects across the whole of the region.

East Renfrewshire environment director, Andy Cahill, said: "The new East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund will combine the income from Scottish Power Renewables from the existing Whitelee Fund and a new funding stream from the Middleton Windfarm to create a single bigger fund available to a greater number of projects across the whole of East Renfrewshire.

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"The existing Whitelee fund - managed by ERC on behalf of Scottish Power Renewables - has already invested more than £1.5m in community projects and has prioritised investment in projects within five km of the windfarm - namely Eaglesham and Waterfoot.

"However a new windfarm in Middleton is already operational and a similar community benefit arrangement is in place. It was agreed that combining the two funds with a new single set of criteria would be of benefit to the entire community and reduce the complexity of managing two separate renewable energy funds across the council."

Kenny Peberdy, UK Director for ScottishPower Renewables, added: "Significant funding from renewable energy projects like Whitelee and Middleton Windfarms can play a very important role in supporting a range of projects that directly benefit local communities."

(LM)