A Scottish administrator has said it is “in conversation” with a number of wind farm funds about providing coronavirus relief.
Foundation Scotland, which administers community benefit payments on behalf of communities, is currently negotiating with around 20 funds.
Community Energy Scotland, who co-owns a 7.5MW wind farm near Cockburnspath with Berwickshire Housing Association and provides around £40,000 a year in community funding, is now working with a volunteer action group to provide emergency grants to local families in hardship.
Jamie Adam, Community Energy Scotland development manager, said: “We have been humbled by the reaction of local communities to the coronavirus emergency, and are delighted to be able to help, if only in a small way.
“We have now been contacted by a new volunteer action group who want to divert some of the money to provide emergency grants to local families who might be experiencing hardship or redundancy.
“This is a great opportunity for renewable energy projects to provide direct action on a pressing local issue, and we’d love to see more wind farm owners following suit.”
On the Isle of Lewis, community wind farm charity Point and Sandwick Trust announced this week it will use all its free cash for this year to set up a pandemic support fund for the local community.
Claire Mack, chief executive of industry body Scottish Renewables, added: “Almost £21 million in community benefit payments is given to communities across Scotland every year and this unprecedented response to the coronavirus pandemic shows how industry and communities can work together on the issues which really matter.
“Scotland’s renewable energy industry looks forward to continued engagement with communities as we work towards our ambitious net-zero target.”
