Investment

The uptake of shares in the project was phenomenal, and the board of directors declared financial closure on 21 December 2011. The first shares were issued on 23 January 2012.

Civil works were completed in October 2012, and the turbines began generating on 20 February 2013 ­– ten years almost to the day after the project began.

In dollar terms the windfarm was at the time the biggest single community project in the town's history. In the first 12 months of commercial production the turbines generated 5.4 GWh of renewable energy – about 50% of average annual domestic consumption. They continue to do so.

Shareholders received their first dividend less than two years after commissioning.