Members of the Scottish Affairs Committee have warned that Scotland’s rural communities must see meaningful benefits from hosting major renewable energy infrastructure as part of Britain’s transition towards clean power.
The committee’s newly published report into the UK Government’s Clean Power by 2030 mission argues that current proposals for community compensation do not go far enough and risks undermining public confidence in the energy transition.
The report highlights growing concern that communities across the Highlands and Islands are carrying a disproportionate share of the visual, environmental and infrastructure impact linked to renewable energy developments while seeing too little direct benefit in return.
Committee members and Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs Angus MacDonald and Susan Murray welcomed the findings and called for stronger support for local communities.
Among the recommendations is a call for the UK Government to seriously consider The Highland Council’s proposal that impacted communities should receive £12,500 per megawatt in compensation payments linked to renewable developments.
The report also raises concerns over fuel poverty in the Highlands despite the region producing vastly more renewable electricity than it consumes.
Current standing charges for electricity in Northern Scotland are significantly higher than in London despite much of the UK’s renewable power being generated in the north.
The committee additionally backed an amendment from Angus MacDonald calling for worker accommodation built for major infrastructure projects to be designed in a way that allows it to become permanent housing afterwards.
The proposal is seen as particularly important for areas such as Skye where housing pressures are already severe and large energy projects risk placing further strain on local communities.
Angus MacDonald said:
“The Highlands generates 12 times the renewable energy it consumes, so it is only right that residents are properly compensated for hosting Scotland’s new energy infrastructure.
“At the moment people are simply not seeing the benefits.
“Clean power targets will only succeed if communities feel the transition is done with them, not to them.
“I am pleased that the Committee has backed my amendment encouraging the government to support Highland Council’s proposal to increase the rate of community benefit payments to £12,500 per MW and to encourage developers to build more legacy housing.”
Susan Murray added:
“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to use cheaper, cleaner energy to power Scotland securely.
“But that needs to go hand in hand with re writing community benefit rules so local people get much more of the money companies make from generating renewable energy near them.
“It should not be developers making a killing, while locals shiver in the shadow of windfarms.
“The current community benefit plans from both the UK and Scottish governments are a recipe for losing hearts and minds in rural communities.
“My party has been clear that we want to see developers put in serious investment in local economic development, housing and support for reducing energy bills.”
The debate continues to grow across the Highlands where large scale wind, hydro and transmission projects are rapidly reshaping landscapes and communities while questions remain over who ultimately benefits most from Scotland’s renewable energy boom.
