Highland Perthshire’s Griffin and Calliachar windfarms have contributed more than £1 million to the local community, it has been revealed.
Perth-based power firm SSE has pledged the sum will rise to at least £15 million during the 25-year life span of the turbines.
More than 100 community projects have been supported in the last two years by the fund, set up following the building of 68 turbines at Griffin Forest, above Aberfeldy and the 14-turbine Calliachar scheme, under construction.
The Birks Cinema, Tayside Mountain Rescue and Birnam Arts Centre are some of the recipients.
In the latest round of funding, £175,000 worth of grants were approved, taking the total spend for the Griffin Calliachar fund through the £1 million mark.
Successful applications included £5,000 to develop an educational woodland in Camserney, £629 for the Dunkeld Handbell Ringers and £75,000 to fund a community buy-out of Aberfeldy Town Hall.
One of the most ambitious projects supported to date has been the regeneration of the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy.
With the art deco cinema having been left derelict in 2004, following a number of years as an amusement arcade, The Friends of the Birks Cinema group was formed in 2005 with the ambition to bring the venue back to life.
More than £1.8 million was needed to rebuild the cinema but after a huge amount of hard work and fundraising the sum was surpassed and after a year of construction, the 100-seat venue finally reopened to the public in April.
Among those sources of funding utilised by the friends was the windfarm fund, with SSE awarded £100,000 towards the cost of the redevelopment.
Muriel Dunbar from Friends of Birks said: “The grant from SSE was a crucial component of the funding package to redevelop the Birks Cinema.
“It’s wonderful that we have now achieved our goal to reopen this fantastic facility in Aberfeldy, which has created 12 jobs and which we hope will provide a boost to the local tourism economy.”
SSE community investment adviser Ciara Wilson said the £1 million milestone was a “fantastic achievement” for the fund.
“In just over two years, over 100 community projects have benefitted, from small grassroots projects like the Dunkeld Handbell Ringers to major developments like the Birks Cinema,” she said.
Local MSP John Swinney added: “Many excellent initiatives have been supported, as a result, creating good community facilities and opportunities.
“I look forward to the fund continuing to make this positive impact on our communities.”