Palmer Wind Farm – Community and Engagement

The Capacity Investment Scheme is an Australian Government scheme that provides long term revenue security and decreases financial risk for renewable energy projects.

The competitive tender process required Tilt Renewables to demonstrate how we will provide best practice social and economic benefits for local communities, First Nations people, and Australian industries.

Being awarded the Capacity Investment Scheme shows that the Palmer Wind Farm is a great project that will create benefits for the environment and community.

The Palmer Wind Farm achieved this by committing:

• $627.5 million to local content and employment, including First Nations economic participation and training. This includes goods, services and labour procured from Australia and New Zealand.
• $10.4 million in community and First Nations benefits

These funds will be spent over the life of the project (32 years).

If the project is constructed, we will have a broader community benefit budget of approximately $226,000 per year for the duration of the wind farm. Across construction and 30 years of operation, this will amount to over 7 million dollars for the local community. We will provide additional funding for First Nation initiatives.

Within the last year we have undertaken engagement activities to better understand community priorities. These included a survey for all community members and two workshops with representatives from community and progress associations, Councilors and Members of Parliament.

Engagement identified the following priorities for how to spend the community benefit funding:

• Providing energy subsidies to those closest to the project.
• Improving mental and physical health services for the communities near the wind farm.
• A community fund that will distribute money to community projects each year.
• Supporting adult learners with further education opportunities.