In Gasselternijveenschemond, 155 households have received money from the containment scheme. That village is the only place in the Veenkoloniale windmill area that is sandwiched between two rows of wind turbines.
Every year, households receive an amount of money as compensation, which they can spend as they wish. The amount depends on the distance from the wind turbines to the homes and on the yield of the wind farm.
The foundation that manages the area fund has not received a response from 41 households that are entitled to money from the containment scheme. Secretary Kai Waterreus of the foundation that manages the area fund thinks that some of the residents who are against the wind turbines do not react on principle.
“Not everyone wants the money, that’s their own choice. People can decide in October whether they want to share next year,” says Waterreus. They will have another chance to apply for the scheme in October. The money that was left over from this round is divided among the other 155 households.
At the end of May, people from the other villages in Aa and Hunze and the municipality of Stadskanaal will also receive money for the first time.
Residents who live less than 850 meters from a wind turbine are entitled to compensation. As with the other scheme, the amount depends on the distance to the wind turbines and the yield of the wind farm.
The Oostermoer Area Fund is filled every year with money from the owners of the wind farm, the national government, the province of Drenthe and the municipality of Aa en Hunze. The governments give fixed amounts, the contribution of the wind farm depends on the yield of the turbines.
The fund is intended as compensation for the arrival of the windmills and can be used for projects to make villages more liveable. The foundation that manages the fund pays out money twice a year.
Residents of Gieterveen, Bareveld/Nieuwediep, Gasselternijveen and Gasselternijveenschemond can submit projects through their village association in the spring and autumn. An annual amount is reserved for each village.
Projects from Gasselternijveen have received slightly more money than is available this time, according to Waterreus. That is why no plans from that village will be chosen in the second project round this year. The deadline for new projects is in September.