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group of people in Helensburgh has come together to work towards developing a sustainable community owned project for the benefit of local people. The Helensburgh Community Development Trust (HCDT) was set up in 2011 as a charitable organisation, comprised of volunteers who care about the future of Helensburgh and its people. Why does Helensburgh need a Development Trust? The Trust was created to fill the void that was the towns lack of a common good fund. Many other communities had already established charitable organisations dedicated to supporting community based projects, while Helensburgh was lagging behind. The initial idea to start a common good fund stemmed from a discussion about financing the Christmas lights at a meeting of Helensburgh Community Council (HCC). Development Trusts have been a major success across a diverse range of communities in Scotland. In the Orkney islands, the Westray Development Trust has helped stimulate the local economy by supporting investment in education and young people. In Perthshire, the Comrie Development Trust has taken ownership of the Cultybraggan army camp to create recreational, employment and sporting opportunities for residents. Helensburgh Community Development Trust is seeking to follow fellow Trusts and emulate their success while finding solutions tailored to the wants and needs of the residents of Helensburgh. It is the people of Helensburgh who will formulate their own ideas on what should be done and choose their directors and trustees to carry out the tasks passed by them. You as Helensburgh townspeople will have many good ideas , however, given the cutbacks in Council spending these will not see the light of day unless alternative funding can be found. How can community activities be funded? Wind turbines have become a secure source of funds for communities all over Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands. In many cases this is by means of a levy paid to the

community by a developer. However, in more innovative places the community itself owns some or all of the turbines and keeps the profits from the venture the isle of Gigha and Fintry are the two best known examples. Neilston Development Trust is currently building a substantial installation while nearer home on the Rosneath Peninsula the Development Trust has even more ambitious plans. Even in the light of the recent reductions in the governments support to renewables, these communities have secured themselves a growing income stream for 20-25 years. There is also the added benefit that wind is a clean energy source, so their environmental footprint is reduced. Helensburgh Community Wind Farm will comprise 5 x 800 KW turbines with a height of 86 metres ground to blade tip giving a total of 4 MW installed capacity. This can provide power for over 2000 homes in Helensburgh, and has the added benefit of reducing our carbon footprint by nearly 5000 tons of CO2 every year. In its lifetime a wind turbine will produce over 30 times more energy than was used in its manufacture. A possible wind cluster for Helensburgh At first, several potential wind cluster sites around the edges of the town were considered. The area above the Helensburgh reservoirs turned out to be the best option as it is sparsely populated, and with the town facing the sea, the turbines would not be visible to most residents. It is also well placed to be hidden from most of the National Park. From an efficiency point of view, it has moderately high wind speeds and space to accommodate commercial turbines so the utilisation factor and energy yield should be high. Finally, it is close to a main road and to a 132 kV electricity substation, which should all help in keeping construction costs down. We started discussions on this option with the landowner Luss Estates in 2009. In 2011 Green Cat Renewables were asked to conduct a feasibility study on the site. This company, based in Biggar, has a good track record of bringing small to medium sized projects on stream in various parts Scotland. Their initial study of the environmental constraints and finances showed that the site is suitable, and so we decided to take it to the next stage. We have now agreed a business model for this development that shares the benefits and the risks equally between the three partners. A partnership will be formed to develop the site, with one third of the eventual asset being owned by the community, and one third each by Luss Estates and Green Cat. Green Cat will be the project manager and operator. They would also take on most of the high risk pre-development costs. Luss Estates as land-owner will fund the scoping report for the development. HCDT will not need to make any financial investment. However, the community will need to be involved actively in supporting the planning application.

After planning consent is gained, the development will be funded by a 12-year bank loan. Profits will be shared equally by the partners, although the community will have first call on any payout of monies. The partnership company will be called Helensburgh Community Wind Farm (HCW). The communitys share in this will be held by a trading subsidiary of Helensburgh Community Development Trust. As ultimate owner on behalf of the community, the Trust will oversee all wind farm activities through its elected officials. Comparing ourselves to other trusts across Scotland, we feel we have got the best deal available here, considering Helensburgh has no community land or any land available to lease. In this model HCDT gets an equal share of an operational site for zero outlay. How much cash might be available? The proposed scheme consists of 5 x 800kW turbines. The profits available will depend on how much wind is actually generated in any one year, as well as on how the wholesale electricity price changes. However, we believe that the range of possible outcomes to be: Years 1-12 40,000 - 130,000 Year 13 onwards 500,000 - 550,000 These numbers obviously represent the most optimistic and pessimistic views, and the most likely amounts will be somewhere in the middle. In the first 12 years, the bank loan is being paid off. After 5 years we will need to allow for increased maintenance costs. From Year 13 however the bank loan is paid off, and since the operating costs are low compared to the revenues, there is a healthy profit to be made for the next 8-12 years. It should also be possible to extend the operating life of the wind farm by replacing the moving parts, at a much lower cost than the original build. As the trust is a registered charity we should not be liable for corporation tax, so all the cash should be available for community. Some possible objections: We have tried to be as sensitive as possible with the siting of the turbines, their height and their installed capacity. These are the smallest commercial machines which make financial sense as lower and smaller turbines will generate much less energy. The landscape around the site already has a 132 kV transmission line and an oil pipeline going through it, so introducing 5 wind turbines will not change its essential character. The access road should be a benefit as it will allow walkers better access to the hills behind the town. There are no dwellings close to the site, so there should be no disruption to people.

At the end of its operating life the land will be returned to its original condition which will entail removing 0.5 metres of the hard standing for the turbines - and also the access road if it is not required for walkers - and covering all with topsoil. Although the site is in the greenbelt, it is only a temporary development. Very little land is needed for the turbines and roads, typically 1 acre per turbine and access roads, livestock can continue to graze round them. Indeed, it should have the effect of holding back creeping urbanisation as houses will not be built close to the turbines. Final thoughts A degree of pragmatism is required here. Times are hard, and there is not a lot of money about. Indeed it was recently reported in the Advertiser that the council has a black hole of 50 million in its finances so anything that can help the community needs to be considered in a positive light. Helensburgh is known in some quarters as a Banana town (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone). We are now in the running for a Plook on the Plinth award! This should bring it home to people that it is time for a change in attitude - instead of telling everyone how hard done to Helensburgh is we can get a hold of ourselves and make some money for the town without doing any lasting harm to anyone or the environment. In the long run there will doubtless be other ways of generating clean electricity. However, in the short term we really have only wind and wind always seems to be with us in Helensburgh. This way we can do our bit towards combating climate change whilst helping our community at the same time. And please remember that without this development, millions of pounds will be lost to the community. We ask that Helensburghs townspeople let their imaginations roam and think what could be done with this income for the town. Ian Fraser, M.D. David Bailey, Environmental Director Kati Byrne, Finance Director Gordon Smith, Technical Director Kirsteen Fraser, HCDT John Sammon, HCDT