ABOUT 500 homes neighbouring a proposed wind farm near Tetney could save £100 a year on their energy bills under a scheme announced by the developer.
ASC Renewables, which is planning to erect eight wind turbines on land at Bishopthorpe Farm, has offered to provide the discount every year for 25 years – the expected lifetime of the wind farm.
The announcement doubles the amount pledged by the company towards the community, as it has already agreed to contribute £50,000 a year for 25 years to a fund for community projects.
Mike Denny, ASC's operations director, revealed the homes, which include properties at Tetney Lock and on the Humberston Fitties, will receive letters later in the year inviting them to join the scheme.
Mr Denny said: "After listening to the community during our ongoing local consultations, a clear message emerged that there is a real appetite for reduced electricity bills against the backdrop of rising energy costs. We are launching the Green Energy Credit Scheme to directly address this point for homes neighbouring our wind farms. We are proud of the fact that we are one of the first companies in the UK to offer this.
"We recognise that with any development, there will be some impact on the local community and so we want to be good neighbours by giving something back to the community."
The scheme, also referred to as the Newton Marsh Extension as it neighbours an existing two wind turbine development recently constructed, has attracted much local opposition. However Mr Denny said that opinion on the wind farm at consultation events had been divided.
The turbines will be 0.7 miles away from the closest house and a mile and a half from the village of Tetney.
ASC is expecting a decision on its planning application sometime in the summer. Construction should be completed about two and a half years after that.
