A renewably energy company has proposed a new initiative which offers discounts to residents living near wind farms.
RES says homes and businesses could save £200 per year on their electricity bills.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood is backing the scheme.
The SDLP minister said: "I welcome this initiative from RES. I believe renewable energy is the single biggest economic opportunity for this island and that the transition to a low carbon economy can be developed in a way that respects and benefits local communities.
"I am committed to ensuring that communities living near wind farms gain the right community benefits from hosting renewable energy developments."
Up to 600 local customers could benefit from the proposals, RDS says - and would receive the payout regardless of who their electricity supplier was.
The Larne-based firm has planning applications at Altaveedan near Loughguile, Co Antrim, Barr Cregg near Claudy and Craiggore near Garvagh, in Co Londonderry.
RES said householders and business owners would get the payout regardless of who their electricity supplier was.
Lucy Whitford from the company said: "We are committed to delivering genuine benefits to the communities that host our wind farms and believe that today's launch will be widely recognised as setting a new benchmark for the industry.
"From consulting with communities near both existing and potential development sites, it became clear that being able to reduce electricity bills was a practical benefit that communities would be really keen to see.
"The schemes launched today will see hundreds of residential, business and community properties qualify for an annual discount of £200 per year off electricity bills and continue for the lifetime of the wind farm - around 25 years."
But the payout isn't swaying favour with everyone, as Loughguile resident Barbara Laverty told UTV she doesn't want to see wind farms near her home.
"We're being paid to have them, we don't need them we don't want them, we just want the place to be left in peace," she said.
"We have to live here, they could have put them somewhere where they're not going to obstruct people to and from work, where they're not going to take away from a scenic area."
Story from: http://www.u.tv/news/Plan-for-200-wind-farm-discount/9ed6f502-1bae-4454-a2a0-1e672360c6fd
RES says homes and businesses could save £200 per year on their electricity bills.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood is backing the scheme.
The SDLP minister said: "I welcome this initiative from RES. I believe renewable energy is the single biggest economic opportunity for this island and that the transition to a low carbon economy can be developed in a way that respects and benefits local communities.
"I am committed to ensuring that communities living near wind farms gain the right community benefits from hosting renewable energy developments."
Up to 600 local customers could benefit from the proposals, RDS says - and would receive the payout regardless of who their electricity supplier was.
The Larne-based firm has planning applications at Altaveedan near Loughguile, Co Antrim, Barr Cregg near Claudy and Craiggore near Garvagh, in Co Londonderry.
RES said householders and business owners would get the payout regardless of who their electricity supplier was.
Lucy Whitford from the company said: "We are committed to delivering genuine benefits to the communities that host our wind farms and believe that today's launch will be widely recognised as setting a new benchmark for the industry.
"From consulting with communities near both existing and potential development sites, it became clear that being able to reduce electricity bills was a practical benefit that communities would be really keen to see.
"The schemes launched today will see hundreds of residential, business and community properties qualify for an annual discount of £200 per year off electricity bills and continue for the lifetime of the wind farm - around 25 years."
But the payout isn't swaying favour with everyone, as Loughguile resident Barbara Laverty told UTV she doesn't want to see wind farms near her home.
"We're being paid to have them, we don't need them we don't want them, we just want the place to be left in peace," she said.
"We have to live here, they could have put them somewhere where they're not going to obstruct people to and from work, where they're not going to take away from a scenic area."
Story from: http://www.u.tv/news/Plan-for-200-wind-farm-discount/9ed6f502-1bae-4454-a2a0-1e672360c6fd
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