Perthshire Public Urged to Show Support for Renewable Energy

[Sep 1st 2005]

People in west Perthshire will be given the opportunity to register their support for community ownership at a wind farm near Aberfeldy at forthcoming public exhibitions.

Alloa-based renewable energy company GreenPower will launch GreenFutures , its community ownership initiative, for the Griffin Wind Farm at exhibitions to be held next week at the Birnam Institute and Aberfeldy Town Hall . GreenPower submitted an amended application for Griffin Wind Farm to the Scottish Executive in August 2005.

GreenFutures is the first initiative of its kind by a renewable energy company in Scotland . It and will present s a unique opportunity for local people to benefit financially through co-ownership of one or more of the wind farm's turbines and sharing in the income generated.

Rob Forrest, Managing Director, GreenPower, said: “Many people have asked us how they could benefit personally from Griffin Wind Farm; GreenFutures is our answer. It is designed to ensure that local people benefit directly while being just one of many positive economic bonuses that Griffin could bring to the wider community. However, the support of the local community is essential to enable us to put the GreenFutures initiative into practice, so we'd ask urge everyone who would like to share in the revenue / benefit financially from Griffin Wind Farm to come to the exhibitions and register their support.”

The public will also be able to view the amended application, which has seen a number of changes to the original plan following consultation with local government and public consultees, at the exhibitions. Changes to the application include a reduction in the number of turbines from 82 to 68, turbine heights reduced by three metres with some reduced by up to 13 metres, and fewer access tracks.

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Mr Forrest added: “We are GreenPower is always keen to involve the local community in our its projects and would like as many people as possible to find out more about GreenFutures, and start to ensuring that they will benefit from Griffin by making their voices heard. ”

Griffin Wind Farm will generate up to 204 megawatts at peak capacity, providing power for up to 176,000 homes and reducing carbon emissions by as much as 560,000 tonnes per year. Griffin Wind Farm will make up to 2% of the UK 's Renewables Obligation target for 2010 and between 17% and 20% of Scotland 's target.

The public are invited to register their interest at the public exhibitions at Birnam Institute, Birnam on September 6 from 2pm to 8pm and September 7 from 11am to 3pm, and at Aberfeldy Town Hall on September 8 from 11am to 8pm.

ENDS

If you interested in the GreenFutures community initiative

please provide us with your details....click Here (this will take you to another website)