The conference “How can Local Communities benefit from Wind Farms?” organized by the Wind Energy Association on 21 November highlighted that the most important pillars on which successful relations between wind farm developers and local communities will be based will be timely and open communication, identification of the needs of local residents and support for the development of local infrastructure, as well as transparency in the use of community payments to municipalities.
At the event, both local and foreign experts shared their experience – Danish and Latvian municipalities in the planning of wind farms was heard, experts from the UK, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Latvia discussed the lessons learned by wind farm developers and environmental experts.
Toms Nāburgs, head of the Latvian Wind Energy Association in his opening notes emphasized that “the human mind works in such a way that we worry about things that we do not understand, so we need to find the most effective ways of communication”.
Conference recording: here.
Presentations:
1. Recent developments in the wind industry in Latvia_ Līga Rozentāle_KEM
2. What are the benefits from wind farms for local communities_Guy Willems
3. From the Wild West to Smart Energy_Lemwig_Michael_Seidelin Haustorp
4. Dienvidkurzeme Municipality_Raivis Kalējs
5. UK experience in local benefits from neighbouring windfarms_Scott Hamilton
6. Best Bractices of the Netherlands_Jan Eggenkamp
8. Breaking points in the public consultations on wind farms development_Oskars Beikulis_ELLE
Thank you to the British Embassy in Latvia, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Latvia, the Embassy of Denmark in Latvia and the company “Utilitas Wind” for their support.
