Proposals for a wind farm at Ffynnon Oer were first presented to the public in August 2002 with public exhibitions held in Croeserw and Resolven.
Local people attending the exhibitions had the opportunity to view information boards outlining preliminary details of the scheme, and information about the studies being undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project. This information included photomontages showing how the wind farm could look from a number of viewpoints in the local area by inserting a computer generated image of the wind farm into photographs of the existing landscape.
Visitors at the exhibitions also had the opportunity to discuss the project with npower renewables staff and air their views on the wind farm scheme. A variety of opinions were expressed and the feedback received by npower renewables was a useful component of the ongoing development of the project.
A lot of interest was expressed at the exhibitions in the community benefits package that npower renewables would deliver should the wind farm be consented. npower renewables establishes community benefits packages at all of its operational wind farms as part of the company's "good neighbour policy" of an ongoing commitment and contribution to the communities of which it is a part.
npower renewables is currently working with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to establish a Trust Fund in association with the Ffynnon Oer Wind Farm to help support local community projects. The Trust Fund, which will receive an annual income of £32,000 from the wind farm, is likely to be administered and managed by a board of trustees made up of local community representatives. The trustees will be responsible for advertising the availability of grants from the fund, encouraging local projects to apply for grants from the fund, assessing all grant applications received and allocating funds to successful applicants. Further information about the Trust Fund will be publicised when all operational details have been finalised.
Since June 2005, npower renewables has also been working with local schools to engage with young people about the issues of climate change, energy supply and energy use and conservation. Please click on the "Schools Education" link on the drop down menu of this page for more information.
Community
