Following the announcement in November that Swedish energy group Vattenfall has pledged to invest more than £15 million in community projects across Norfolk through its offshore wind farms, a meeting will take place in Reepham on Wednesday 11 May to help shape a fund that supports climate-smarter community projects.
The first round of funds from the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Community Benefit Fund is due to be unlocked in late 2023 when cable laying work is expected to begin for the Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farms.
The 25-year fund will be managed independently of Vattenfall, with people living in Norfolk taking the lead in how awards are implemented.
Hosted in conjunction with local parish/town councils, including Reepham, Cawston, Great Witchingham, Oulton and Ingworth, the meeting will be held at Stimpson’s Piece Pavilion, Bartle Court, Reepham, from 6–8 pm. Participants are asked to arrive by 5.50 pm to enable the meeting to start promptly.
Alternatively, people can participate online but will need to register in advance for the meeting link.
Participants will be able to find out what the fund could look like, based on views that residents have already shared, and what other communities have done using similar funding from Vattenfall.
They will also generate and share ideas about what they would like to see in their community, deciding topics to explore in more detail and the kind of information or support to help move ideas forward, and how to stay involved.
To assist with planning, and with health and safety measures, participants are asked to register for the event (and receive a link for the online meeting) in advance by email.