A £60million Aberdeenshire windfarm will be officially opened today.
The 18-turbine Clashindarroch scheme on the edge of the Cairngorm National Park near Gartly is being unveiled by Swedish energy firm Vattenfall.
Local residents will represented at the event as £40,000 is handed to community groups from Huntly, Strathbogie, Tap o’ Noth and the Cabrach.
The funds are the first tranche of money from the £185,000-a-year Clashindarroch community fund, which was set up by Vattenfall to support local causes.
Among the organisations benefiting is the Friends of Insch Hospital and Community, which is aiming to raise £3million for the building’s reconstruction by 2017.
Group member Alison McPherson said: “We are delighted to be receiving this funding from the Clashindarroch community fund. This will enable us to introduce a variety of new activities and support to Rhynie and the surrounding communities.
“We try to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get involved from primary school children to retired people.
“This funding means we can now offer things locally so that people living in very rural locations have easier access to activities, all of which can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.”
Huntly’s Aurora Youth Choir will also receive a £1,500 grant from the fund.
Spokeswoman for the choir, Frances Irvine, said it would make a “tremendous difference” to the group.
Other groups benefiting include the Cabrach Community Association, Glass Community Association, Deveron Arts and the Gordon Woodworkers.
The windfarm is expected to power 27,068 Aberdeenshire households – which amounts to about 20% of the homes in the region.
Vattenfall president Magnus Hall said: “Vattenfall is driving towards a sustainable power supply and we want to take the communities where we operate with us.
“Clashindarroch windfarm hits the mark on both counts. We don’t just want our windfarms to be good for the environment but good for the community too.”
The Clashindarroch community fund opened for applications earlier in 2015 and will run for the next 25 years.