On December 2nd, Valga Municipality and renewable energy producer Sunly signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Tsirguliina, setting a framework for the local benefits associated with the planned Herro Wind Park. The agreement includes, among other things, the community’s opportunity to purchase electricity at significantly lower prices.
According to the memorandum of understanding, residents living within a six-kilometer radius of Herro Wind Park or with a view of the wind park from their homes will have the opportunity to buy electricity at a fixed rate of 4.9 cents/kWh for ten years. This price is approximately half the average market price of electricity last year (10.9 cents/kWh). For residents of Uniküla, the offer is even more favorable, at 2.9 cents/kWh.
Sunly also offers local businesses with high energy consumption the possibility to build a direct line from the industrial park enterprises to the wind park, allowing them to save on grid fees. Sunly is already contributing to the local community and plans to support regional development further and enhance the quality of life in the area.
According to Monika Rogenbaum, the Mayor of Valga, the agreement with the wind park developer is significant as it ensures economic and social benefits for residents if the park is established. “We want to ensure already at this stage that the wind park would deliver meaningful benefits to our community. Agreements like this help to strike a balance between development initiatives and the community's interests.,” Rogenbaum emphasized.
At the signing, Sunly’s board member Erkki Kallas stated that Sunly is developing the Herro Wind Park in collaboration with the community. “Our goal is for locals to feel that the Herro Wind Park is also their wind park. In addition to fostering good relations, this requires tangible local benefits. We already have a local virtual shareholder community that gains real benefits from the wind park’s success. The neighbors of the wind park will also enjoy cheaper electricity and the opportunity for a direct line,” Kallas explained.
Sunly is developing the Herro Wind Park, consisting of 23 turbines, near the villages of Alamõisa, Uniküla, Kiviküla, Õruste, Tõlliste, and Sooru. Once the wind park becomes operational, Sunly will pay a national environmental fee (the so-called wind turbine levy), of which 50% will go to the municipality for regional development, and 50% to local households within a three-kilometer radius of the turbines. Based on the estimated production of the 23 turbines in the Herro Wind Park and electricity prices, the annual turbine fee is approximately 300,000 euros.
Authorities and affected parties are currently reviewing the special planning solution and strategic environmental impact assessment. At the beginning of 2025, a public display will take place, during which everyone will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the planning solution and provide feedback.
