Greenburn Wind Energy Park developers sign Memorandum of Understanding with 9CCG committing to community benefits
(Left to Right): Melvyn McKeown, Project Manager, REG Greenburn Limited; Alex Baird, Chair, 9CCG; Emma Shearer, Assistant Project Manager, Electricity Supply Board (ESB), and Jo Shinkwin, Onshore Wind Project Director, ESB Asset Development, Electricity Supply Board (ESB).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has now been signed between REG Greenburn Limited and a local community Trust that will deliver an annual community benefit fund of up to £315,000 per year.
The 9CCG, a fully incorporated local community body which represents the nine community councils in the area, will be responsible for approving the allocation of the community benefit funds.
The community benefit fund is expected to start once the wind farm is fully operational, towards the end of 2027 and will continue for the project’s 35-year life.
Speaking on behalf of REG Greenburn Limited, Project Manager Melvyn McKeown said how pleased the developers were to sign the MOU. He said:
“This MOU recognises the work and commitment that the local communities have put in to set up the 9CCG: this community body will approve and allocate many millions of pounds of community benefit funds over the next three to four decades as a consequence of the wind farms in this area.
“It is an inspiring example of ‘best practice’ to communities that host wind farms across Scotland about cooperating across administrative boundaries, to ensure that benefits are delivered to communities.
“We look forward to a close and productive working relationship with the 9CCG, working together to ensure we maximise the benefit to the communities and leave a long-lasting legacy.”
Speaking on behalf of the 9CCG, Stephen McCarron, Chief Officer said:
“We are now seeing the benefits of nine community councils working together. Community benefit from the wind farms that are being and will be built in the area, will help transform many of our communities."
Since being granted consent by The Scottish Government in April 2023, the developers of the Greenburn project (REG Power Management Ltd and ESB) have been conducting a detailed appraisal of the project.
A Section 36C application to vary the consented wind farm on land next to the fully restored Greenburn opencast mining site near New Cumnock, was lodged with Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit at the end of last year.
Revisions to the consented project include fewer but taller turbines (14 instead of 16: with blade tip heights increased from 149.9 m up to 180 m, (11 turbines at 180 m and of three turbines at 167.5 m). Six of the 14 turbines will be fitted with visible aviation lighting.
The S36C application together with the full suite of EIA documents is available on the ECU (Energy Consents Unit) website, at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00005183.
and on the project website www.greenburnwindpark.co.uk
As previously, the Section 36C application will be determined by the Scottish Government, with East Ayrshire Council as a statutory consultee.
About the 9CCG https://9ccg.co.uk/about-us
REG Greenburn Limited is a joint venture between two well-established companies: REG Power Management, established in 2005, a UK developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy projects, that has developed and built over 1GW of operational wind and solar projects and Electricity Supply Board (ESB), Ireland’s state-owned electricity utility company, who will deliver the project. ESB has more than 7,000 employees and provides power to over 1.5 million customers.
For further information visit www.greenburnwindpark.co.uk
CONTACTS:
Stephen McCarron
9CC Group
Chief Operating Officer
07427 654230
Donald Martin
DM Media Consultancy
Media Enquiries
07711 451330
