Good Energy Is Consulting on Proposals for a Wind Farm in West Kintyre, Near Tayinloan

The Proposals

Good Energy is consulting on proposals for a wind farm in West Kintyre, near Tayinloan.

We are keen to get feedback from the local community before we consider submitting any planning application to Argyll & Bute Council.

This is part of a wider consultation programme designed to ensure our proposals take account of local knowledge, public opinion and the community’s aspirations for the future.

Delabole Wind Farm, North Cornwall – Good Energy’s first wind farm We would like to stress that the initial plans presented here are subject to change and may be influenced by the feedback we receive public exhibitions, probably early next year, to share our revised from you, as well as by the findings of ongoing site assessment work. plans with local people.

Over the coming months, we will be working to refine our proposals Once we are satisfied that our proposals meet all of the relevant in light of the feedback we receive from you, and from other environmental requirements and address the views of the local individuals and organisations. We will then hold a second series of community, we hope to submit a planning application later in 2016.

Please use this opportunity to let us know what you think of our initial plans and how they might be improved. We look forward to hearing your views. About the project

Good Energy is developing proposals for a wind farm on the Largie Estate, around 2km north east of Tayinloan, West Kintyre.

At present, we believe the site could accommodate a wind farm of up to 13 turbines, each with a maximum tip height of 130 metres.

If constructed at this scale, the wind farm could generate approximately 69,000 MWh (units) of renewable electricity each year , equivalent to the annual electricity demand of around 17,000 average homes . The site as it is today

We believe this is a good site for a wind farm, with an excellent wind On other information boards you will find further information on the resource, good road access and a suitable grid connection. Environmental Impact Assessment process, including what the wind farm might look like, and some ideas about how the project might Our initial assessments indicate the potential benefits of the project benefit the community. would far outweigh any adverse impacts: to the environment through the generation of low-carbon electricity, and to the Scottish We are keen to hear your feedback on all aspects of the project at and local economies and the communities of West Kintyre through this early stage in its development, so please speak to a member of the investment it would bring. the team or use one of our feedback forms to let us know what you think. The map below highlights the boundary of the proposed wind farm site in relation to local landmarks and the separate site plan shows The project is currently known as Willow Wind Farm but we would an indicative layout for the wind farm as presented in our scoping like to hear whether you have any locally relevant alternative report. These are also shown in larger format on a separate board. suggestions for a project name. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013

A map showing the location of the proposed wind farm site The indicative layout of the proposed wind farm submitted in April 2015 as part of our scoping report

Based on the UK average load factor for onshore wind average for 2014 of 26.5% (DECC: Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2015), a wind farm with an installed capacity of 29.9MW would generate 69,400 MWh per year. Using the projected annual yield and the average annual household electricity consumption for 2014 of 4,001kWh (DECC: Energy consumption in the UK, 2015) We’re an energy company with a difference

We firmly believe the UK needs more home-grown renewable electricity to help achieve climate change targets and provide secure energy supplies for homes and businesses at stable, affordable prices into the future.

That’s why, as well as investing in new renewable technologies like tidal power, Good Energy has been working with Mackie’s Icecream in Aberdeenshire since we’re developing more generation projects using proven, cost-effective technologies 2005, buying surplus energy generated from their three onsite wind turbines such as onshore wind and solar. communities achieve their ambitions and enhancing Good Energy’s approach to development also ensures our renewable energy the natural environment to leave a positive legacy for projects deliver local benefits, bringing investment to the local economy, helping years to come.

Working in Kintyre

Good Energy is proud to have worked in Kintyre for many years. As well as supplying 100% renewable electricity to a number of local homes and businesses, we’ve had a long-standing relationship with the community-owned wind farm on Gigha and have recently signed an agreement to buy the power (once it starts generating) from an innovative tidal energy demonstration project in Sanda Sound, off the southern tip of the peninsula.

Good Energy was founded in 1999 on a mission to help tackle climate change and build energy security

We were the UK’s first dedicated 100% renewable electricity supplier

We currently supply more than 55,000 electricity customers and support over 93,500 homes, businesses and communities generating their own energy across the UK

We own and operate two wind farms and six solar farms

To help meet growing demand from homes and businesses for 100% renewable electricity, we’re developing more green energy projects

Our Customer Care Team has consistently been ranked within the top of the table for the ‘Which? Customer Satisfaction Survey for Energy Suppliers’ over the past 4 years Our commitment to the local community

Good Energy is committed to sharing the benefits of renewable energy by investing in the local communities that host our generation projects.

Delabole UFC in their new kit paid for by the In parallel with the planning application process, we want to work with the Delabole Wind Farm Community Fund communities of West Kintyre and other stakeholders to identify ways the wind farm project could benefit the local area.

As a minimum, we would commit to an investment equivalent of at least £5,000 per MW of installed capacity, for each year of the 25 year lifespan of the project. This could be delivered in the form of a community fund controlled by local people and used to support a range of local environmental, educational or cultural initiatives.

In this case, we would be keen for the communities closest to the wind farm to have Local school children on a site visit to Good Energy’s Crossroads Solar Farm, Dorset priority for support from the fund, but the detailed criteria and process for allocating grants would be subject to discussion with local stakeholders at a later date. we’ve heard so far include local public transport,

One option which has proven popular as part of the community benefit arrangements walking and cycling routes and apprenticeships for around our other wind farms is a special Good Energy ‘local tariff’, offering cheaper school-leavers. We’re sure you have other ideas, too. renewable electricity to nearby homes. Subject to local demand, we could offer a Please talk to a member of the team or complete local tariff set at 20% cheaper than our standard prices to all homes within a defined a feedback form if you have any suggestions on radius of the wind farm. how the project could deliver benefit to the local We are also open to the suggestions for direct investment by Good Energy in local community and/or if you’re interested in the idea of facilities or services that could benefit the communities of West Kintyre. The ideas a local Good Energy tariff.

Good Energy maintains that the role of communities in our renewable energy future will be even stronger if they’re able to take greater ownership of new power generation developments.

That’s why we have recently begun to explore the opportunities for community investment in our new solar and wind sites.

Local ownership means it’s more likely that any economic benefit of large-scale renewable energy developments is kept within the local area and used to support Members of the local community on a ‘turbine tour’ at further investment in community initiatives. This can create a virtuous circle with our Delabole Wind Farm in North Cornwall long-lasting benefits for local communities as well as reducing carbon emissions. If you have any suggestions about how local ownership of the wind farm might work, or are Community investment can take a variety of forms including part or even whole interested in community investment either as an ownership of the wind farm by local organisations with assistance from external individual or on behalf of a local organisation, lenders, or direct investment by local people through a community share offer. It may please speak to a member of the team or complete even be a combination of both. one of our feedback forms. Our commitment to local jobs

We aim to use local suppliers and contractors wherever possible during the development, construction and operation of all our generation projects.

For Willow Wind Farm, we would build on our existing relationships with the area’s renewable energy sector to ensure the local economy benefited as much as possible from our investment in the project.

As part of our local consultation, we’re keen to meet with any businesses which would like to be considered for our local suppliers’ register. As well as specialist contractors, we’d like to hear from accommodation providers and other firms who might benefit from additional trade during the construction phase of the project.

If you represent a local business that could supply goods or services for the Good Energy’s wind farms at Delabole (top) and development, construction or operation of the wind farm, please let us know. Hampole (bottom) under construction

We recognise the challenge faced by young people in this part of Scotland in finding employment close to home.

As one small contribution towards tackling this problem, we have committed to offering work experience opportunities for local young people wherever possible during the development of the wind farm project.

In the short-term, there may be opportunities to work alongside some of the environmental experts undertaking surveys on or around the wind farm site later this autumn. Local school children on a site visit to Hampole Wind Farm during construction

We will keep the local community updated with any future work experience opportunities but please do let us know if you’re interested, or know someone else who might be. Environmental Impact Assessment

To help inform the proposed site layout and design of the wind farm, a team of expert consultants working on behalf of Good Energy is preparing a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposal. The EIA will include the results of ongoing site surveys and assessments, covering topics such as landscape, birds, wildlife and noise. This will be submitted to Argyll and Bute Council as part of our planning application. You can read more about some of these assessments below.

Habitats Birds & wildlife Taking into account the results of these We have been building up our knowledge of surveys, the turbine layout will be designed to the wildlife on and around the wind farm site minimise the impact of the plans on birds and through detailed field surveys undertaken by other wildlife and their habitats. We will also a team of professional ecologists. The first of put in place measures to protect and enhance these, studying migratory birds, began in early existing wildlife habitats to ensure the final 2014 and will continue until spring 2016. A greylag goose development makes a positive contribution to the local natural environment. Noise To illustrate some of the environmental Noise from wind turbines is likely to be largely inaudible to people nearby, or ‘masked’ constraints affecting the site, we have produced by the background noise already present in the surrounding environment. We a map showing the location of habitat areas have appointed an independent noise expert who will conduct studies of existing that exist within the site boundary. Please ask a background noise levels from locations around the site, to enable us to assess any member of the team to see a copy. likely noise impact as a result of the proposals. The results of this assessment will feed into our design.

Landscape surveys being carried out at our Noise monitoring equipment of the sort being deployed at the site Hampole Wind Farm site before construction Environmental Impact Assessment

Landscape & visual

We are conscious that the landscape and visual impact of wind farms can be a key concern for local people. This is particularly evident in an area like Kintyre which has been at the forefront of Scottish wind farm development for some time.

The EIA accompanying our planning application will include a detailed Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA). This will feature a series of photomontages, conducted to rigorous industry standards, showing how our proposed wind farm could look from a range of locations in West Kintyre and further afield.

The locations for these photomontages have been agreed with Argyll and Bute Council and Scottish Natural Heritage, and all of these images will be available to view once a planning application is submitted. We’re also grateful for the input from members of our Community Liaison Group for their assistance in selecting which viewpoints should be included in the LVIA.

You can view photomontages from five of the agreed viewpoints here today. These are based on the indicative site layout which is subject to change and so have not been prepared to the standard of the final LVIA images, but they should give you a good feel for how things might look. Cumulative Picture

To reflect the level of wind farm development in this area of Kintyre, we will be undertaking a ‘cumulative assessment’ as part of our planning application. This takes into account any local schemes that are already in development or at the planning stage, as well as those in construction or operation. The image below demonstrates the location of our proposal in relation to others.

D LEGEND X

M LEGEND . 8 0

0 Proposed Turbines (Willow) _ 5 9 8 3 \ S

T Distance from Turbines (5, 10, 15, 25, 35km) C E J O R P

\ Cumulative Turbines S I

G Sròndoire 8 \

W Operational wind farms (individually labelled) O

L Allt Dearg L I W _

T Consented wind farms (individually labelled) C E J O R

P Wind Farms in Planning _ 5 9 8 3 \

S Clachan Escart Farm B O J \ : X Creggan (appeal)

Blary Hill (appeal)

Gartnagrenach Farm Wind Farms in Scoping Freasdail Stewartfield

Ronachan

Clachaig Glen

Cumulative wind farm criteria: Cour Gigha Wind Farm 1 - All wind farms, or single turbines above 90m tip height within the 35km study area; s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright, All rights reserved. 2015 s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright, Gigha Wind Farm 2 - All turbines between 50m -90m tip height within 20km; Deucheran Hill - All turbines within 10km of the proposed turbines.

PROJECT TITLE Killegruer Glenbarr Beinn An Tuirc 1 WILLOW WIND FARM Auchadaduie Beinn An Tuirc 2

DRAWING TITLE

Tangy 3 Cumulative Sites within 35km

ISSUED BY Glasgow T: 0141 222 9780 DATE September 2015 DRAWN SDW SCALE @A3 1:275,000 CHECKED RS STATUS Draft APPROVED MFi

DWG. NO. 3895_008

No dimensions are to be scaled from this drawing.

This drawing may contain: Ordnance Survey material by permission of on behalf the Controller Her M ajesty’ All dimensions are to be checked on site. Area measurements for indicative purposes only.

h Sources: Ordnance Survey t r o N

This drawing may contain: Ordnance Survey material by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright, All rights reserved. 2015 Reference number 0100031673. OS Open data / © Natural England / © DEFRA / © DECC / © English Heritage. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2015 | Aerial Photography - World Imagery: What might the proposed wind farm look like?

We are preparing a full Landscape and Visual Assessment of our proposals which will be submitted as part of our planning application. The viewpoints below give you an idea of what the proposed wind farm could look like based on the indicative layout. However it is highly probable that the site design and how the wind farm looks in the landscape will change as we take account of our onsite assessments and feedback from the local community.

Viewpoint 1