Local businesses encouraged to see benefits of Spittal Hill Windfarm proposals

18th June 2013

Businesses in and around Caithness are being encouraged to become more involved in the construction of Spittal Hill Windfarm if approved, located just over 2km north east of the village of Spittal through a series of contractor preview events.

The proposals, which outline plans for up to 8 turbines with an installed capacity of up to 24 megawatts (MW) and a height to the tip of up to 100m, would represent a capital investment of around £30 million for the area, and if approved, would present local businesses with a unique economic opportunity.

The company behind the proposals, Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd, is keen to see local businesses participating in and benefiting from the construction of the wind farm as well as its operation and maintenance. It is anticipated that during the construction period alone, Spittal Hill Windfarm could generate up to 30 local jobs.

Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd is keen to meet companies with the following expertise:

· Civil engineering

· Mechanical Engineering

· Steel Fixing and Shuttering

· Aggregate Supply

· Groundworks

· Haulage

· Plant Hire

· Electrical Services

· Waste Disposal

· Scaffolding

· Environmental Monitoring

· Local Accommodation Providers

Those interested in becoming more involved with the project are invited to attend a set of preview exhibitions which will form a part of the wider public exhibitions taking place on Wednesday 26th June 2013 in Watten Village Hall from 3.00pm – 8.00pm and on Thursday 27th June at the Ross Institute in Halkirk from 3.00pm – 8.00pm. The preview events will take place on both days from 2.00pm – 3.00pm.

Members of the project team will be on hand to explain further to those attending what opportunities there will be for businesses should the application be successful, as well as answering any questions that people may have. The main public exhibitions are open to everyone, and Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd is hoping that local community members will take advantage of the opportunity to come along and learn more about the proposals.

Commenting on the exhibitions Tom Pottinger of Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd said:“The plans for Spittal Hill represent an opportunity for businesses in the Caithness area to benefit significantly from the wind farm through direct local employment opportunities.

"Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd is committed to ensuring that as many local firms as possible have the opportunity to become involved in the construction of the Windfarm should they wish to. As was the case with Baillie Wind Farm, where more than 15 local firms worked on the project, the construction period alone for Spittal Hill could generate up to 30 local jobs.

"We would very much encourage anyone with an interest in the proposals to come along to our public exhibitions to learn more about the project. It is important to us that as many members of the local community as possible use the opportunity that exhibitions bring to provide us with their thoughts and feedback as well as asking any questions they may have. We have also committed to providing £5,000 per MW of installed capacity to a community benefit fund amounting to up to £120,000 per year. We are actively looking at ways to fund training schemes for young people and would like to hear the ideas of community members as to how they believe this money should be spent. "