Every primary school in the Shepway District Council area has been offered a free renewable energy day and £50,000 has been made available to good causes by npower renewables, the company building a wind farm on Romney Marsh.
When the public inquiry into the wind farm at Little Cheyne Court ended in 2005, the planning inspector ordered Lydd Airport to pay legal costs, for acting 'unreasonably' in bringing their objection to the hearing.
Two years later that decision has lead to a windfall for local good causes, as npower renewables has made the £72,500 costs award available for community work.
Development Manager for the company Simon Holt said, "As a renewable energy company we are acutely aware of the urgent need to tackle the causes of climate change. Wind farms have an important part to play in combating this serious global issue and the actions of Lydd Airport unnecessarily delayed an urgently needed project. This is plainly unacceptable and the message is that we will look for costs where organisations have been deemed to act unreasonably."
"The wind farm plans have received very positive support from within local communities throughout the development process and we are delighted to be handing this money over to local projects."
Alongside the curriculum based renewable energy days, which are hosted by educational charity CREATE, npower renewables will make four grants of approximately £14,000 each to local community projects.
Mr Holt continues, "We have already received a number of enquiries from local groups and would invite any other organisations who require funding to make an application. Grants will only be awarded to organisations or projects within 10km of the wind farm, however the full criteria will be available in the application pack.
"We would especially welcome applications for projects which aim to improve the local environment, this could include themes such as saving energy, reducing emissions, generating renewable energy, recycling, encouraging wildlife, restoring or creating habitats, protecting species, environmental education, community spaces and improving access to the countryside.
"This grant is in addition to the £60,000 per year wind farm community benefits package which will be made available when the wind farm is operational, which is expected to be in mid-2009."
The closing date for application is 29th February 2008. Any groups interested in making an application for funding should contact Katy Woodington, npower renewables' Community Benefits Officer for an application pack, on katy.woodington@npower-renewables.com, or write to:
Katy Woodington
npower renewables
Dolgarrog Power Station
Dolgarrog
Conwy
LL32 8QE
Media Contacts:
For further press information, please contact:
Michael Pullan, npower renewables
Tel: 01793 892053
Kim Daye, PR assistant
Tel: 01793 894947
Notes:
npower renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation facilities in the UK. We are market leaders in the development and operation of both onshore and offshore wind farms and small-scale hydroelectric schemes. We currently operate 19 wind farms with a total generating capacity of 401MW; equivalent to approximately 17% of UK installed wind capacity. npower renewables also operate hydroelectric power stations at 15 sites with a capacity of 59MW.
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