Antinuclear

Wind farms a financial boon for local communities in UK

The latest government research shows that onshore wind is supported by 66% of the public with 12% opposed, including 4% who are strongly opposed. However, there is evidence that communities become more supportive when they benefit directly from local wind farms. There is much greater public acceptance of renewables in Germany, where two
thirds of all turbines and solar panels are owned by individuals, farmers and communities.

Good Energy announces local tariff scheme, Renewable Energy Magazine, Robin Whitlock, 22 November 2012 Local residents near the company’s wind farms will benefit from lower energy bills under a plan to ensure community interest remains at the heat of renewable energy generation in the UK

Good Energy has announced the UK’s first Local Tariff to reward households near its wind farms with lower electricity bills,
pioneering a blueprint to put community interest at the heart of renewable energy generation across Britain. Customers who live within two kilometres of the company’s flagship 9.2MW Delabole wind farm in north Cornwall, will qualify for its new Local Tariff, offering a 20% discount on its standard electricity prices. It will currently save an average Good Energy customer in the area around £100 over a year.

The discount will be available to existing and new customers from early 2013. The tariff will also pay out a ‘windfall’ credit of up to £50 per household every year that the turbines exceed their expected performance…..

When we researched opinion in the local community,
there was a very positive response from residents with 68% of those
surveyed saying they would consider switching to a Good Energy Local
Tariff once the benefits were explained to them.  This response is in
line with the many inspiring community projects, such as Gigha in the
Hebrides which generates two thirds of its own electricity with three
wind turbines which are owned by the community.”

Good Energy’s Local Tariff is replicable across the country and will
be offered at the company’s other wind farm sites (over 4 MW) as they
are developed.  The tariff fulfills a long-standing ambition of the
company to ensure communities benefit from their local wind farm.
Good Energy plans to develop 110MW of new renewable sites by 2016
across a number of technologies…….
The latest government research shows that onshore wind is supported by 66% of the public with 12% opposed, including 4% who are strongly opposed. However, there is evidence that communities become more supportive when they benefit directly from local wind farms. There is much greater public acceptance of renewables in Germany, where two
thirds of all turbines and solar panels are owned by individuals, farmers and communities…..
The company pioneered financial support for renewable generators
almost a decade ago, and is now the UK’s largest administrator of the
feed-in tariff, supporting more than 40,000 small generators. It also
developed the UK’s first Renewable Heat Incentive, HotROCs, using
revenues from gas sales to reward customers generating their own heat.
http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/article/good-energy-announces-local-tariff-scheme-20121122

November 22, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized