Announcement of offshore benefits for Lewis leads CES to call for support for other communities
Community Energy Scotland welcomes the news that Spiorad na Mara, a proposed windfarm off the coast of the Isle of Lewis, has committed to delivering £4.5m per annum into a Community Benefit Fund to directly impact communities in the west of the island, should the project proceed.
This marks an important milestone in more than two years of discussions that have taken place between Spiorad na Mara and the West Side Estate Group, which comprises three community-run estates – all members of Community Energy Scotland – and one privately owned estate.
The West Side Estate Group has emphasised that it has not taken any view on supporting the project but has had a clear objective to secure a commitment of this type from the developer as early as possible in the project timeline to ensure the best possible outcomes for local communities if the project does go ahead.
Extensive and meaningful consultation will now take place with communities and stakeholders across the island, building on discussions that have already taken place to date, to decide on how exactly the fund should operate. This will include taking decisions on the geographic area to be covered by the fund, the types of projects and initiatives that can be supported, and governance and administrative processes. These will be used as the basis for a legally binding Community Benefit agreement between Spiorad na Mara and West Side Estate Group.
Kenny Maclennan, Chair of Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh, a West Side Estate Group partner, stated “As well as the community benefit fund, West Side Estate Group has been pressing the developer for more extensive and regular consultation with other organisations and communities prior to the consenting process starting.”
Zoe Holliday, CEO of Community Energy Scotland, said: “This announcement is the result of extensive pro-active engagement with the developers by the West Side Estate Group, and we congratulate them for working together to deliver maximum positive impacts for their local communities.
“However, we recognise that this outcome has only been possible because the West Side Estate Group have extensive experience of commercial negotiations, estate management and renewable energy development, as well as significant capacity to engage in these challenging discussions, including staff who are paid from the proceeds of income generating renewable energy installations.
“If we want to see maximum benefits from the green energy revolution in local communities, significant capacity building will be required across Scotland to ensure that community groups who have less experience to date are able to take a seat at the negotiations table. Funding and support for income generating community energy projects must also be prioritised, in recognition of the impact that this can have on local community groups’ capacity and sustainability.
“Thoughts must also be given as to how benefits from offshore wind farms should be fairly distributed across Scotland if we are to achieve a just transition. Community Energy Scotland and its partners in the Scottish Community Coalition on Energy have called on the Scottish Government to create a National Community Wealth fund to ensure that financial gains from our natural resources are shared equitably across Scotland.
