Angus MacDonald MP calls for guaranteed community benefits from Highland pumped storage projects
Liberal Democrat MP Angus MacDonald has today called on the UK Government to ensure communities in the Highlands receive “a fair return” from the multi-billion-pound pumped storage projects planned for the region.
Speaking this morning in a Westminster Hall debate on Long Duration Electricity Storage Systems, the MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire warned that, “we cannot allow the Highlands to provide the land and natural resources while local people are left with few lasting jobs, no legacy housing and minimal community benefits.”
The Highlands plays a vital role in the UK’s renewable energy system, generating 12x more electricity than it consumes. Yet, remote communities continue to face high living costs, low incomes and some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in Britain.
Mr MacDonald argued:
“Rural Scotland plays a vital role in enabling Britain to achieve its net zero ambitions, but the communities hosting this infrastructure must share in the benefits.
“These projects represent billions of pounds of investment and could operate for more than 100 years.
"We cannot allow the Highlands to provide the land and natural resources while local people are left with few lasting jobs, no legacy housing and inadequate community benefits."
In response, Michael Shanks MP, Minister for Energy, said that, “I really welcome the Hon Gentleman’s recognition of how important Long Duration Energy Storage is on our system."
“It (renewable energy) also has to be the foundation of delivering economic growth. He (Mr MacDonald) rightly recognised the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘growth in every postcode’. Energy policy does not exist in a vacuum - it is part of our industrial strategy. We’re building these extraordinarily important projects that will last for over a century or more, there has to be some legacy for the communities from those projects, and we have to bring people with us on this journey."
Speaking after the debate, Mr MacDonald said:
“I am very glad to have been able to raise this issue in Parliament again, and to push the government to do better for our communities in the Highlands.
“Today’s debate was an important opportunity to highlight the need for Highland communities to share in the benefits of the energy infrastructure they host. The only way this will happen is if the UK Government works proactively with Ofgem, the Scottish Government and industry to secure in legislation the requirement for long-lasting and meaningful benefits for local people, through jobs, housing and community investment.
"Pumped storage has the potential to be a huge asset for the Highlands, but we must ensure that the people who live here benefit from it for generations to come. Scottish Liberal Democrats will continue to make this case until both of Scotland's government get onboard.”