Richard Lochhead: Moray and the North will be at heart of green revolution
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Scotland, the UK and countries across the world are in the midst of a new energy revolution, as governments across the globe strive to achieve net zero emissions and make the move to cleaner energy sources.
Communities across Scotland, including here in Moray, are seeing those changes up close, as new transmission infrastructure projects are constructed to ensure electricity supplies meet demand across the UK Grid.
When you consider the current energy infrastructure as well as ambitious plans for offshore renewables, there’s no doubt that the North of Scotland will be at the heart of our green energy revolution.
We have an excellent opportunity to produce cleaner, greener, and cheaper energy, and to transform our economy.
The Scottish Government is clear that this energy transition must be just and fair, ensuring mistakes of the past are not repeated, and that workers and communities are not left behind.
That means communities that are set to host transmission infrastructure needed to secure the nation’s energy supplies must benefit from that.
Around a decade ago, when we saw the growth of onshore wind developments, the Scottish Government was clear that communities should benefit from those developments. With powers over energy reserved to the UK Government, Scottish Ministers were limited in what could be done, but we did introduce guidance for community benefit set at £5000 per megawatt.
Readers will know many local organisations, groups, and community halls across Moray that have benefited from these funds over the years.
But the reality is, community benefit needs to go much further and should be felt by every household in towns and villages affected – we need household benefits.
It’s no secret that many of the communities hosting vital energy infrastructure have some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the country. We have people in Moray terrified of opening their energy bills, whilst the energy is being produced and connected to the grid right on their doorsteps.
The Tory Government which has responsibility for, and power over, the UK energy policy must take a bold and more radical approach to community benefit for those communities that enable and support transmission infrastructure.
Whether that is lower energy tariffs or funds to make homes more energy efficient, I strongly believe there’s a case to be made for benefit that directly helps reduce the cost of energy for households in the communities hosting major transmission infrastructure.
With this now being a bigger issue south of the border, the UK Government has finally launched a consultation on community benefit for transmission infrastructure and only time will tell whether Conservative Ministers are prepared to bring forward proposals that would be truly transformative for people in Moray.
This is a hot topic in communities in Moray and across the North of Scotland and I would urge people in the communities affected to make sure they share their views with the UK Government before the consultation closes on May 25.
Click here to have your say.
