‘WIND turbines have become such a feature in the area and throughout Fife and Scotland, that it seems hard to remember when they didn’t exist at all.

They’ve sprung up at an astonishing rate as the demand for renewable sources of energy increases and whether you love or loathe wind farms, one thing’s for sure: they are here to stay.

I won’t get involved with the merits of wind farms or otherwise, but one thing that does please me is the benefits that communities are getting in the form of local dividends. This is based on so much per megawatt (MW) of electricity generated and is paid every year.

Take the Little Raith wind farm, near Mossmorran, the first such commercial operation to be built in Fife, as an example.

Operators Kennedy Renewables pay £49,500 a year to the 4Winds Development Trust, which was set up to manage the funds on behalf of the the community councils in Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Lumphinnans and Auchtertool.

This is based on £2000 per MW from the existing nine turbines (they produce enough electricity to power around 14,500 homes), a payment that was agreed between the previous developer and the communities, and will mean £1.25 million invested in local communities over the next 25 years.

However, this benefit could show a significant increase if a proposed six-turbine extension to the wind farm gets the go ahead: the latest guidance for community benefit is £5000 per MW and Kennedy Renewables say that they are happy to pay this from electricity generated from the new turbines.

The application includes proposals for an education and visitor centre, and the company also works closely with Fife College, providing funds to set up the Kennedy Renewables Educational Fund. Other local communities are also benefiting from wind farms.

Westfield operators, Infinis, pay £37,500 a year to Foundation Scotland, which will distribute the money to Cardenden, Kinglassie and Benarty Community Councils. There’s a bit of discussion going on at present as to how much each should receive, but I am sure an amicable solution will be found!

None of the money has been distributed yet, but I know that, like elsewhere, there are many existing things that could do with a helping hand – for instance the annual Cardenden bonfire event is always struggling for funding – as well as new ideas that require money to get them off the ground.

Slightly further afield, the Earlseat Wind Farm, near the Wemyss villages, has entered into a partnership with Fife College to establish a ground-breaking programme that will provide up to 125 apprenticeships over the next 25 years – a superb example of how education and industry can work together for the benefit of our young people.

Wind farms might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and I appreciate both sides of the argument, but it is good to know that local communities are at least benefiting to some extent from the green energy revolution.’