Councillors want windfarms to pay more to local communities

Councillors have called on the chief executive of Mayo County Council to "show leadership" by seeking an increase in the community benefit fund from the Oweninny Windfarm in North Mayo.

The Irish Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) mandates that the community benefit fund must receive €2 for every megawatt-hour of electricity produced, but councillors want that figure index-linked to inflation. 

While the windfarm is currently in its second phase of development after 31 additional turbines were commissioned in 2023, the project is officially classified under the RESS-1 scheme (opened in 2020) for its community benefit fund, with the agreement that Oweninny Power 2 DAC provides an annual contribution of €2/MWh for 15 years starting from 2024 up to 2039. In return, projects receive a guaranteed "strike price" from the government for electricity, which over the years averaged as follows: €98.81/MWh in RESS 5; €96.85/MWh in RESS 4; €100.47/MWh in RESS 3; €97.87 MWh in RESS 2 and €74.08 per MWh in the first RESS 1 auction in 2020.

At last week’s meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Harry Barrett condemned the fixed community benefit payment, declaring that it simply cannot continue. 

“It is not even linked to inflation and has not moved for years. This rate is frozen in time and is shrinking every year and is starting to feel like the bare minimum rather than a genuine partnership with Mayo. 

"We are generating energy for large operators on the east coast while at same time oil costs have gone up and everyone is struggling. Meanwhile, major windfarm companies in this county are making massive profits and turning around and offering us the bare minimum."

Cllr Barrett said if an increase is secured “it must be directed towards every Meals on Wheels operation in the county, because we can’t have the situation at the moment where they are cutting back on their supplies, getting cheaper cuts of meat and dropping service days".

The Independent councillor asked council management to "show leadership and set higher standards" in Mayo. 

“How can we open up negotiations on this?” he asked chief executive Kevin Kelly. 

Cllr Michael Loftus said that even when electricity can’t be exported out of Owenwinny “they turn off the turbines, the company gets extra money anyway but not the community gain". 

"So there is profit from production and also when not producing, and that needs to be addressed by the minister before the next licence is given. The community is equally entitled to gain when the turbines are not running.” 

Cllr Gerry Coyle said the situation is scandalous.

“It is not being taken into consideration that 40% of our energy is already renewable and the cost of wind hasn’t gone up, it is still blowing there every day. It is scandalous when you think Mayo is getting nothing, the gas and wind is exported out but we are in decline.” 

Mr Kelly said seeking a voluntary increase in the contributions under the community benefit fund "won’t work".

"I think it requires a change at national level, but as it stands, no company will pay five euro where they only have to pay two.” 

Cllr Barrett countered: “Then I propose we demand information around turbine production data off every windfarm, and it is the remit of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to provide that information. The rate being paid is a floor and not a ceiling and there are no negotiations on an increase. So let us start demanding energy production data as we would be quite concerned about the energy used and the profit being made, while communities are taking all the pain. 

"I propose that we ask for an increase in community benefit and make it index linked. Our message to the renewable energy developers is 'we welcome you, but we want you to be good neighbours and move your community benefit in line with inflation'. We don’t want static rates as these wind farms make mega profits. So over the coming months, I propose we open negotiations.” 

Cllr Barrett's proposal was approved by members.

Later in the meeting, a notice of motion by Cllr Jarlath Munnelly called on the council “to refrain from approving planning permission for windfarms in County Mayo until the Mayo Renewable Energy Strategy has been updated".

A written response from the council's senior planner John McMyler noted: “Currently, there are no live planning applications for windfarms with Mayo County Council. There are three windfarm applications, located in Mayo, which fall within the definition of Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) being considered by An Coimisiún Pleanála at this time. Should an application for a windfarm be submitted to Mayo County Council then it would have to be considered and processed. It is not possible for Mayo County Council to refrain/refuse to consider such an application. 

"It is intended that the revised Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) for County Mayo and associated screening reports will be completed in April 2026. The revised RES will require a variation of the Mayo County Development Plan 2022-2028 which would be considered by the elected members.

“In a broader policy context, the impending review of the current Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) may impact directly on the future accommodation of renewable energy within the county. The revised RSES will set targets for the renewable energy strategy for the NWRA region and will include county-specific targets. However, it appears that the revised RSES will not include a renewable energy strategy for the region, just targets.”

• Published in conjunction with the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.