Twenty one local organisations in coastal areas of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Norfolk have secured a total of GBP 195,000 in grants in the first round of DONG Energy’s GBP 9.3 million East Coast Community Fund.
The East Coast Community Fund is part of the community engagement programme for DONG Energy’s Hornsea Project One and Race Bank offshore wind farms.
Each year, for the next 10 years, approximately GBP 390,000 will be available from the main fund to support community and environmental projects in the region.
An additional GBP 75,000 per year is ring-fenced for a skills fund, designed to support a range of educational and training initiatives.
There are two application rounds for the main fund each year for groups to apply to, the next round is open with a closing date of 2 August 2017.
Natasha Nanuck , DONG Energy’s Stakeholder Advisor, said: “It’s really exciting to see such a diverse group of organisations benefit from the East Coast Community Fund, and I look forward to seeing these projects develop. We want people who live in the areas we operate to really feel the benefits of these huge infrastructure projects, so this is just one of the ways we ensure we have a positive impact in the local community.”
The 580MW Race Bank is being built off the North Norfolk coast and will be capable of meeting the electricity needs of over half million UK homes when it becomes fully operational in 2018.
The 1.2GW Hornsea Project One is located 120km off the Yorkshire coast and covers approximately 407 square kilometers. DONG reached a final investment decision to build the wind farm in February 2016. It is due to be operational in 2019.