EDP Renewables North America has committed $300,000 to support the Chalmers, Brookston, Reynolds and Wolcott communities near its six-phase 801MW Meadow Lake wind farm in Indiana.
The four towns, all located in White County, will receive $75,000 each to put toward the projects of their choice.
The plan for these investments includes funding a new fire station in Brookston, a splash pad and repairs to the American Legion building in Chalmers, a new electric sign and lights for the community baseball field in Wolcott and an electronic marquee sign and upgrades to town facilities in Reynolds.
EDP Renewables North America senior development project manager for the eastern region Matt Thornton said: “Since the completion of the first phase of Meadow Lake in 2009, EDP Renewables has continued to grow and invest in White County thanks to the support we’ve received from local communities.
“This donation is one of the ways we want to show our appreciation.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to work with local residents and give back to an area that has been so welcoming to us for more than a decade.”
EDPR relied on the input from local stakeholders and its operations staff who live and work in the area to determine which projects would benefit from the support package.
In February, the company met with leaders and community members from each of the four towns closest to Meadow Lake to listen to their current priorities and learn how to best support their goals.
The benefit package is a part of a series of contributions given to organisations in White and Benton Counties in 2020.
EDPR also provided a total of $16,000 in Covid-19 relief to the White County Food Pantry, the Good Samaritan Food Pantry, the Honey Creek Volunteer Fire Department, the Chalmers Volunteer Fire Department, the Prairie Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Wolcott Volunteer Fire Department, the Remington Fire Department and the Community Action Program of Western Indiana.
White County Commissioner Steve Burton said: “EDP Renewables worked directly with the towns closest to Meadow Lake Wind Farm to explore the best opportunities to support them.
“We want businesses in White County to make a positive difference here. EDP Renewables’ desire to support the communities they work in is genuine – and appreciated.”
Meadow Lake has been operating in Indiana for 11 years, producing enough clean energy to annually power the equivalent of more than 200,000 average Indiana homes.