Unlocking Exploration: Self-Motivated Agents Thrive on Memory-Driven Curiosity
Neilston Community Windfarm
1. NEILSTON:
• Former mill town,
• Now commuter community on SW outskirts of Glasgow
• Pockets of extreme disadvantage
NEILSTON COMMUNITY WINDFARM
JOINT VENTURING FOR OUR FUTURE
3. The Scottish context 1:
• Massive rise in community-based action around land,
energy and local development
• Scottish Government recognises this as a way of
mobilising local capacity and action in a time of
pressure on resource
• Community Empowerment Act
• Challenges - suggests change in local democratic
institutions, decentralisation of power, resourcing of
the new institutions to deliver on the promise we
have shown.
• So we’re not there yet, despite the wonderful work
already done by the community movement.
4. The Scottish context 2:
• NDT one of 200 community based trusts
• Scottish Community Alliance represents large
number of community networks, including
– Development Trust Association Scotland
– Community Energy Scotland (Community Energy target
500mw)
– Community Land Scotland
– Community-based Housing Associations
– Community Transport etc
5. We wanted to make Neilston a better
place to live in….
With a well designed environment
A good quality of life
Well suited for the 21st century….
With local people leading
Reclaiming the streets for play
6. Neilston Development Trust (NDT)
• Physical excellence PLACE
• Cultural & Social growth PEOPLE
• Sustainable development PROSPERITY
Underpinning these:
• Community connectivity & participation
• Economic development
Our vision has 3 key themes:
12. NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS
The slow burn!
•East Ren Council - all relevant depts
•Barrhead HA - support from the start!
•Voluntary Action East Ren - ditto!
•Community Council and all community networks
•Community Health & Care P/ship
•Colleges and Universities
•National networks and policy forums
13. NEILSTON FUTURES: PROSPECTS
Neilston Community Windfarm LLP
• Joint venture partnership between
commercial windfarm developer
and the Trust in 10mw, £15.6m
project
• NDT has 28.3% stakeholding in the
development
• £10m approx. income to Neilston
over life of projec
14. • NDT tries to engage nearby commercial
developers (the Big Ones) in purchasing potential
output from one turbine (rerun of model
elsewhere)
• No success there!
• Introduction to a company, Carbon Free
Developments, looking for a community and a site
to test their Joint Venture model
How we got started as windfarm developers
19. The model: pre-planning
• Carbon Free (developer) had researched the site
• Carbon Free introduced to NDT
• CFD/NDT ( via NDT Trading) enter into LLP
• Option to lease agreement with landowner (normal
commercial terms)
• CF undertakes and funds development of site
• No commitment by NDT at this stage
20. Community consultation
• Proposal put to community
June 2009
• Publicity and consultation
weekend July/August 2009
• Updates in NDT newsletter
• Neighbouring village
objections Oct 2010
• Consent produces threat of
application for judicial review
21. Community renewables:
some barriers
• High risk development capital
• Technical expertise lacking in community
• Capacity - volunteer time
• Difficulty of accessing funds for equity
22. The money: financing
• Total project costs £15.6m
• Development costs c £500k
• 10MW in 4 turbines
• Senior debt at 80% (Coop Bank)
• NDT needed to source up to £1.5m equity to realise
its 49.9% share
• Actual loans secured £950k (Social Investment
Scotland, Charities Aid Foundation, Big Issue Invest,
West Scotland Loan Fund) - equates to 28% share.
• Income flow begins 2014-15
23. Learning?
• Ensure message gets through - take it on the chin at
an early stage!
• Need for strategic view of community futures and a
mandate to act
• General political support
• Good professional advice essential (legal, financial)
and strong internal management
24. Wider significance of community energy
• Provides resource for
building of new local social
and economic base.
• Virtuous circle of energy
generation and local use, job
creation and citizen
stakeholding (political and
financial)
• Stimulates local ownership
of the carbon reduction
agenda
25. Application in Ireland?
• Government enthusiasm for community ownership
of energy
• Community access to grant and loan finance
essential for joint venture model (enabling
mechanisms)
• Community share issue via Coops
• Strong and resilient community building
• Local economic development
26. Harness your own resources to build your own,
sustainable future!
You’ll need:
• a strong community
organisation,
• with a clear vision,
• building partnerships:
technical, political, financial
Neilston’s message to Leitrim?
