In the neighbourhood of wind farms: over half a million euros for communities from Ignitis Renewables
For the third year, Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company, has provided financial support to local communities located near the wind farms managed or developed by the company. Financial support was granted to as many as 23 community projects in the Lithuanian districts of Kelmė, Mažeikiai, Tauragė, Jurbarkas, Kretinga and Klaipėda. This year, a record amount of EUR 561,000 was granted. The company has already granted over EUR 900,000 in total for community initiatives in Lithuania.
“While developing renewable energy projects, we try to be good neighbours for local communities. Our support is not limited to improving their wellbeing as we also foster local culture, strengthen relationships between local residents and contribute to community growth. We want to help the neighbours of our wind farms build a solid foundation for growing and prospering,” said Emilija Musteikytė, Community Projects Coordinator at Ignitis Renewables.
Financial support to communities located near wind farms under development and in operation
For the first time, financial support was granted to the projects (eight in total) of communities located near Kelmė wind farm, which is currently being developed by Ignitis Renewables. The communities of Vaiguva and Kražiai Elderships plan to use the financial support to improve their wellbeing, for example, renovate, thermally insulate and fit out their premises, install lighting and organise events. The financial support granted to communities in Kelmė alone amounts to EUR 191,800.
The Butkiškės Community Association will spend their financial support on renovating their community centre: replacing windows, fixing electrical installation, improving ceilings, floors, walls, installing heat pumps and a theatre stage.
“We have been engaged in the community theatre activities for nearly three years, but we needed a space for theatre activities and leisure. The second floor of the community centre was unusable, but the financial support from Ignitis Renewables will help us to solve this problem. If the financial support had not been granted, we would probably have not renovated it,” said the Chair of the Butkiškės Community Association, Kristina Bertašienė.
Fitting out community gathering places and adapting them to people with disabilities
The Rotuliai village community in Jurbarkas District are also glad to have the opportunity to renovate their community centre. According to Viktorija Aranauskienė, Community Chair, the financial support received for heating installation will help the community host important local events and workshops and will enable resident gatherings all year round.
“We want to renovate the community centre, install a heating solution so local residents can carry out their activities, such as organising Christmas tree lighting events, workshops for children or knitting meetings. By renovating the community centre, we also want to make it accessible to people with disabilities,” states V. Aranauskienė.
Another community in Jurbarkas District, Jovarų Alėja, has built a container-type community centre using the financial support granted by Ignitis Renewables, and it will use the financial support granted in 2024 (EUR 56,000) to fit out the centre and organise the opening event.
More events that unite communities
Financial support granted by Ignitis Renewables is not limited to building renovations, it is also used to unite local residents. For example, in Tauragė District, Lauksargiai village community Lauksargiškiai will use the financial support to acquire items needed for events.
“We host many events that attract a lot of people. We have an outdoor stage, but we lack seating for the audience. The Eldership has old benches that could be used during events, but they are not very comfortable for elderly people to sit on,” says Elvyra Grombergienė, representative of Lauksargiai community.
Funds for uniting the locals and town visitors will also be used in J. Lankutis Public Library, located in Klaipėda District Municipality. The financial support will be used to acquire an outdoor dome, which, according to Birutė Grybauskienė, Chief Librarian, will perform several functions for the community.
“Our vision is to open an information centre inside the dome, which would have information about all enterprises and institutions in Klaipėda District. This way visitors and local residents will no longer have to visit several institutions to find the information they need. Besides this, the dome will host educational events. A playground, stadium and a community vegetable garden will be built next to the dome, therefore I believe the dome will become a true centre of attraction for locals,” underlines B. Grybauskienė.
The funding will help cherish the history of Lithuania
The financial support approved by Ignitis Renewables for Mažeikiai-based association called Creating Together will help publish a book about Pikeliai, which, according to the head of the association, Danielius Gedutis, will contribute to the preservation of the town’s history.
“We have been collecting information about Pikeliai for years, and we were found wanting to put everything into a book instead of leaving the compiled information to fade away. This scientific book compiled by professors and doctoral students will be included in our archive and serve as a valuable source of information for students writing their graduation theses or for future generations. It is currently in the editing stage and will be published later this year,” says D. Gedutis.
He notes that the project funds will also be used to renovate the block-paved path leading to the Monument of Vytautas the Grand, a community gathering place of great importance. People gather near the monument to celebrate Lithuanian public holidays and to sing the national anthem.
The Pikeliai settlement, celebrating the third year of being good neighbours with Ignitis Renewables, have already benefited from the company’s financial support by installing lighting, smart benches, renovating and fitting out the community centre, which is used for community activities and hosting pilgrims.
Church, library, school and community
“Vydmantai community located near our Kretinga wind farm is really special. It boasts highly active residents. We receive financial support inquiries from the parish (for church construction), library, school and the community. In three years, solar energy powered lighting and an outdoor classroom-dome were installed, the gymnasium football pitch was fenced, an outdoor stage was constructed and a wooden structure was built for the church, which is under construction,” E. Musteikytė commented further on the Vydmantai community.
According to the Chair of Vydmantai Community Centre, Simas Končius, the Vydmantai community is very happy with Ignitis Renewables’ initiative. The financial support granted this year will fund the works on the church facade and door. The funds granted for the library will make it possible to organise a series of events: two plays, nine psychology lectures and twelve outdoor training sessions. Residents of Kretinga and Klaipėda Districts will greatly benefit from such an abundance of initiatives. In addition, the gymnasium will have its electrical installation and ceiling renovated. The funds granted to the community will be used to acquire a container-warehouse, a modular house, outdoor furniture and a tent. Since the community does not have its own premises, the financial support will help to store the property that they have.
“It is important that we did not have to go anywhere and ask for it. A few years ago, the company approached with its financial support model. We are happy that this partnership enables us to attract investments, improve the wellbeing and infrastructure of the community and the settlement,” added S. Končius.
Financial support has been granted for three years in a row
Ignitis Renewables has been supporting communities for three years now. In 2022, the company granted its support to nine communities located near its renewable energy projects, with EUR 86,100 granted in total. In 2023, ten Lithuanian and six Polish projects received financial support, with EUR 350,000 granted in total.
In 2024, projects of the communities located near the wind farms in Tauragė, Mažeikiai, Jurbarkas, Kretinga, Kelmė (Lithuania), Pomerania, Silesia (Poland), and solar farms in Vārme and Stelpe (Latvia) received financial support. The total financial support granted for the projects of the communities in three countries amounts to over EUR 1.1 million.
