Fury as EDF windfall ‘£16m short’

Speyside communities claim they are being shortchanged by £16million by an energy giant.

Villages across the area stand to benefit from the huge Dorenell Wind Farm, which is being built on the Glenfiddich Estate, near Dufftown.

However, despite Scottish Government guidance saying that communities should get annual payments of £5,000 per MW of energy generated, developers EDF Energy have only offered £2,000.

It has argued that since the guidance was published after the project was approved, it will honour the previously agreed £2,000 – and insisted there would be other non-cash benefits.

However, the difference means a projected

“EDF and the estate stand to generate in excess of £1bn”

£27.5million fund over the course of the turbine’s 25-year lifespan could be slashed to £11million.

Talks have now been scheduled for this week.

Fraser McGill, of the United Communities Impact Group, who lives in Dufftown, said: “We represent about 2,500 residents who already suffer the most expensive energy costs to consumers in the UK.

“EDF and the estate stand to generate in excess of £1billion profit.”

Yesterday, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said: “This case does beg the question as to how many windfarm companies are not paying the recommended national standard in community benefit.”

John Penman, project director for Dorenell Wind Farm, said: “Community benefit is not always just a monetary fund but enhanced mitigation can be included as part of the overall package, and we are upgrading paths and creating warden and ranger posts as part of this.” Comment, Page 31