By David McKay
A landmark commitment from Scotland’s wind energy sector to invest more in
local communities was dismissed as “derisory” by campaigners last night.
Scottish Renewables published a protocol committing to provide £5,000 to
local projects for every megawatt of generating capacity at new onshore
windfarms of 5MW and upwards.
The industry body, which represents 300 companies, said the move could
provide millions for communities over the lifetime of a large-scale
development.
The new set of standards also includes a pledge to work with the Scottish
Government to explore an increase in community ownership of turbine schemes.
But national campaign group Scotland Against Spin described the initiative
as “meaningless” after Scottish Renewables admitted there would be no
sanctions in place for firms who do not comply with the guidelines.
Chairman Graham Lang said: “This is far too little, much too late.
“It’s a desperate rebranding exercise by a mendacious industry which wants
to pretend it’s community-minded when it is ruthlessly minded.
“£5,000 per megawatt is derisory, no more than that already recommended by
UK and Scottish Governments. Set against the revenues an average windfarm
in Scotland receives, it’s around 2%.”
Figures published by Scottish Renewables in July showed that windfarms that
have signed up to the Scottish Government’s Register of Community Benefits
from Renewables have contributed more than £5million a year in community
payments.
Niall Stuart, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “We want to
clearly state our industry’s commitment to delivering local benefits from
every new windfarm.
“The protocol will also ensure a consistent approach to the development of
community benefit agreements.”
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing welcomed the announcement, and said the
guidelines for the wind energy industry in Scotland went further than those
adopted in other parts of the UK.
He said: “This protocol is an important step in the right direction as we
move towards a position where as many newwindfarms as possible, even small
scale developments, are able to sign up to these commitments.”
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