ScottishPower Renewables has provided £50 million in funding, via dedicated Community Benefit Funds, to local communities.
The funding had been allocated through dedicated Community Benefit Funds at 36 onshore windfarms from Wick to the West Country.
The £50 million allocation has been utilised for a range of projects increasing the creation of community facilities, boosting rural transport services, supporting environmental improvements and employment opportunities and delivering education programmes and skills developments to enhance career opportunities.
The final factor includes funding net zero initiatives and helping to grow heritage and tourism.
“At ScottishPower, making a difference for people and communities is at the heart of everything we do. I’m really proud that we don’t only power our communities – we empower them too – and it’s amazing to see the variety of projects our funding is supporting,” said Barry Carruthers, onshore managing director at ScottishPower Renewables.
“It is, in many cases, able to bring about real change and shows the incredible added value our funding can bring to local projects. They are genuinely creating a legacy on many levels and that’s testament to our way of working, which is all about being a good neighbour and helping us all enjoy a better future, quicker.”
ScottishPower Renewables also revealed several examples of Community Benefit Funds and what had been achieved via the funding.
One of the examples included providing funding for the Whitelee Countryside Rangers who work to promote responsible access within the windfarm, install and maintain recreational furniture and signage and also host free events throughout the year.
Alongside this, funding also helped to unlock investment for three Passivhaus homes in Dumfries and Galloway, which provide a high level of comfort while using very little energy for heating and cooling.
“Numerous village organisations and groups would have ceased had it not been for the great support Dunlaw Windfarm provides. These groups play a very important part in rural village life, providing villagers a place to meet and socialise,” said Frances Dickman, treasurer of Oxton Dunlaw Windfarm.
In July, ScottishPower launched its biggest ever recruitment drive, as it looks to hire at least 1,000 new recruits in the next 12 months. The move was to secure further renewable energy projects in the future after seeing a record number of green energy infrastructure projects secured in the first half of 2022.