Rt Hon Lord McConnell, First Minister of Scotland 2001-07, is to chair a new panel set up by energy firm SSE to oversee community funding potentially worth around £90 million over the next 25 years.
The fund will be available to non-profit-making organisations, community groups and charities within regions in which SSE is constructing a wind farm. It will support projects which promote skills development, community energy developments or improve the built and natural environment.
An expert panel, chaired by Lord McConnell, has been set up to decide which applications will receive funding. The panel consists of:
- Professor Jan Bebbington, Professor of Accounting and Sustainable Development and Co-Head of School, University of St Andrews
- Nicholas Gubbins, Chief Executive, Community Energy Scotland
- Damien Yeates, Chief Executive, Skills Development Scotland
- Alan Young, Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, SSE
The first round of funding will open to applications from organisations in the Highlands in September when around £325,000 will be available, shortly followed by funding rounds in Perthshire and Dumfries and Galloway in the spring of next year.
SSE expects the fund could be worth up to £90 million over the next 25 years.
Lord McConnell said: “I am delighted to have been asked to chair this new and exciting panel and to work alongside experts who bring with them a wealth of experience across community development, environmental sustainability and skills development.
“This fund aims to support large – potentially transformational – projects in local areas, supporting skills, jobs, community energy and environmental enhancement. This is a significant amount of money made available by SSE and I know they want us to make sure these funds are allocated effectively, making a real difference.
“I hope we will see high quality applications with strong support from local communities.”
Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE, said: “I am really pleased that Lord McConnell, with support from Professor Bebbington, Nicholas Gubbins and Damien Yeates, has agreed to help us launch and shape this exciting new fund.
“Our heritage in Scotland means it is only right that we support the communities in which we operate to develop and flourish. The fund we’re launching today is in addition to the sizeable sums we set aside each year for communities within the immediate area around our wind farms, for existing and new sites.
“Communities have been benefiting from SSE’s community investment since we launched our first fund in 2002, and many more will be eligible to apply for funding as new wind farms become operational. If our planned wind farms get the go-ahead, during their lifetime we expect to invest over £240 million in community projects.”
Lord McConnell will recieve £5,000 per year for chairing the panel.