MacDonald urges public to respond to Community Benefit energy consultation

Angus MacDonald, MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, has urged MPs, MSPs and others to respond to the UK Government’s consultation on community benefits and shared ownership of new renewable energy projects and reiterated his call for a mandatory scheme, delivering money for local communities that host new energy infrastructure, which could be used to cut bills or provide local services.

The UK Government is currently seeking views on potential mandatory community benefits for low carbon energy infrastructure, and community energy shared ownership schemes. The consultation closes on Thursday 16th July.

Mr MacDonald has been campaigning for ambitious proposals than would stipulate 5% of revenue from projects would be paid as community benefit, including leading a debate in the UK Parliament, proposing amendments to the Great British Energy Bill and passing a motion at Scottish Liberal Democrat conference.

MacDonald also calls for communities to have the right to own a share of renewable projects, saying that ‘this is the holy grail’. Several Hebridean communities have demonstrated how significant these can be to their local population.

In 2023, research by Octopus Energy found that 87% of people would support a wind turbine in their community if it reduced their bills.

Mr MacDonald said:

“I was keen to urge as many people as possible to respond to this consultation and make clear their desire to the communities who provide so much of the UK’s renewable energy benefit from their infrastructure being built on their doorsteps.

“Renewables projects are being developed across the Highlands, yet the turbines are made abroad, often owned by overseas utilities firms and little of the of the billions they generate finds its way into our communities.

“Rural constituents see turbines out of their windows yet pay four times the price for energy than those on mains gas. For them renewable electricity is 24p per kw, yet carbon fuel mains gas is 6p per kw.

“Community benefit schemes are a way for developers to bring communities with them and deliver an energy system that everyone benefits from.

“Liberal Democrats want to ensure that all national infrastructure projects and major energy generation infrastructure—not just transmission—provide minimum levels of community benefit, invested at a local level into community benefit funds for this money to be spent in areas determined by the local communities most affected.

“This is a chance to shape the future whether your constituency is already impacted by energy infrastructure or may be in future, your input will be invaluable.”