The Glendale Community Hall Association on the Isle of Skye has gained approval for a grant to install a wind turbine - adding to its current renewable energy source.

The Skye and Lochalsh Community Economic Development (CED) programme is providing £5,600 towards the project.

CED is funded through the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional programme and administered by HIE Skye and Wester Ross on behalf of a local partnership of public and private organisations.  The programme can provide funding to small scale local projects which demonstrate an economic activity.

The Glendale Community Hall Association is committed to obtaining its energy from renewable sources.  A ground source heating system was installed when the hall was built in 2004.  The CED grant will go towards a 2.5kw wind turbine which will soon be installed to reduce the amount of imported electricity and therefore lower the revenue costs of the hall.  A grant application has also been submitted to the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC).

Kathleen Lindsley, secretary of Glendale Community Hall Association welcomed the grant.  She said:  "We have been working on this project with ALIenergy (Argyll, Lomond and the Islands energy agency) for the last year, where they have given us free and impartial energy advice.  Electricity produced from the wind is clean and won't dirty the air we breathe.  As we all know, the wind is plentiful and renewable and won't deplete our resources, but it will reduce our annual running costs. Our hall committee feels that small scale wind energy projects like this should be encouraged for all community facilities."

The Skye and Lochalsh CED programme still has £20,000 available to assist projects supporting local communities.  Applications for grant towards already well developed projects are welcome until 31st October 2006.

Jennifer Robertson, development manager at HIE Skye and Wester Ross said:
"We are keen to hear about any other local community projects.  Perhaps some projects are seeking to close a funding gap and maybe these projects are eligible to apply for a CED grant.  We make local decisions on local projects so it might be worthwhile telling us about your project."

Enquiries and applications should be made to Jennifer Robertson at HIE Skye and Wester Ross on 01478 612841 or email jennifer.robertson@hient.co.uk

Another community scheme which is available in the area is the Skye and Lochalsh Community Resource Worker Scheme, which enables community based groups to engage an individual to progress a particular project or development phase.  This scheme is part-funded by the Skye and Lochalsh CED programme, HIE Skye and Wester Ross, Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage.  A small amount of funding remains available within this scheme, for which enquiries should be made to Dawn Campbell at HIE Skye and Wester Ross on 01478 612841 or dawn.campbell@hient.co.uk.

A similar scheme exists for community based groups in Wester Ross for which enquiries should be made to Lindsay Campbell, HIE Skye and Wester Ross,
01349 868967 or lindsay.campbell@hient.co.uk.