Communities across Scotland are now receiving £5 million a year from wind farm operators, industry leaders revealed.
Scottish Renewables said it was “fantastic” local areas were now receiving this level of voluntary funding and added the amount paid out could become “much higher” as new green energy schemes get up and running.
Community benefit schemes linked to wind farms include £100,000 towards restoring the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy. A group in Dunkeld and Birnam which encourages locals to grow organic food also received £13,000.
Scottish Renewables encourages every wind farm developer to provide some sort of benefit whether via a cash grant or others means to the community where its windfarms are.
The Scottish Government set up a register of community benefits, with this now showing the amount being paid out has topped £5 million a year
Joss Blamire, senior policy manager for Scottish Renewables, said: “It’s fantastic to see that onshore wind developers are working directly with communities to provide local causes in Scotland with more than £5 million in voluntary funding every year.
“We believe this figure will be much higher as we encourage every developer to sign up their schemes and as new schemes become operational.
“It’s hard to imagine any other industry being able to offer anywhere near this kind of commitment to local communities.”
He added: “Community benefit isn’t just a financial transaction it can be provided through a variety of means.
“In some cases the relationship between developer and community goes even further into commercial joint ventures and even complete community ownership.
“We know our members are providing communities with a range of opportunities to invest in projects and initiatives that really matter to them.”