COMMUNITIES across Scotland are now receiving £5 million a year from wind farm operators, industry leaders have revealed.
Scottish Renewables hailed as "fantastic" the news that local areas were receiving this level of funding – and this amount could be "much higher" in future.
Schemes linked to wind farms have resulted in the Biggar Museum Trust receiving £620,000 from the Clyde Wind Farm Community Fund, while a similar scheme gave £100,000 to restore the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy.
A group in Dunkeld and Birnam that supports locals to grow organic food received £13,000, and the Causeymire Wind Farm in Caithness gave funding to the Halkrik Playgroup and Toddler Group.
Scottish Renewables encourages every wind-farm developer to provide a benefit – via a cash grant or other means – to the local area.
The amount being paid out has now topped £5m a year
Joss Blamire, senior policy manager for Scottish Renewables, said: "It's fantastic to see that onshore wind developers are working directly with communities to provide local causes in Scotland with more than £5m in voluntary funding every year.
"We believe this figure will be much higher as we encourage every developer to sign up schemes and new schemes become operational."
Lang Banks, of environmental charity WWF Scotland, said: "It's fantastic news that so many communities are already benefiting from Scotland's rich renewable energy resource."
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