A community wind power project : the making of a pure-bred community wind power project

This presentation discussed issues regarding community involvement in wind energy development projects. In particular, it focused on financial and operational involvement by stakeholders such as landowners, municipalities, investors, local companies and residents of the communities. It was cautioned that communities should not rely on developers alone, and that a balance of power must be established between the developer and the community in order for fair negotiations to take place. The success factors for community wind projects were outlined. It was noted that the process for consultation at the local level should begin at the early stages of a project to provide authorities an opportunity to invest in the projects. The participation of local investors in a project increases the chances of acceptance from the local population. As such, everyone living in the vicinity of a wind power project should be invited to participate in its financing. A coherent investment should be negotiated and managed with banks and local financial institutions with equitable distribution of income among all land owners concerned by the visual impact of the wind project, not only among owners of land on which the turbines are built. The presentation concluded with a review of an agreement between Val-eo and the municipality of Saint-Gedeon. The agreement stipulated that the project must provide important economic benefits to the municipality and that the municipality must actively participate in the project. tabs., figs