Scottish forests meet community needs through wind power

On the 26th April 2012 Harper Macleod LLP (legal advisors to Fred. Olsen Renewables) will host the Scottish Highland Renewable Energy Conference in Inverness. It will be attended by Jeremy Sainsbury (director at Natural Power and Chairman of Scottish Renewables); Community Energy Scotland and the key note speaker is Fergus Ewing MSP Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism. More info here

With these key players in the same room we could see a radical change in the way we develop Scottish resources for the benefit of the people of Scotland as well as the big businesses that are currently securing the benefits. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has divided up the Scottish Forestry estates and offered them to “Development partners” including Scottish Power, E-ON, PNE Wind and Fred. Olsen Renewables.

Forestry Commission Scotland are also giving communities a chance to get involved..

A coalition of charities in East Lothian, Dunbar Community Energy Company and Voluntary Action East Lothian, is offering to help one of these major developers, Fred. Olsen Renewables (Natural Power), become a leading example of how to work with communities and share the benefits of wind farm developments in Scotland.

Fred. Olsen Renewables (Natural Power) are planning a third extension to their Crystal Rig wind farm in East Lothian. The wind farm has the grid capacity for 18 wind turbines but Natural Power is submitting planning permission for 11. The communities of East Lothian could have ownership of the remaining 7 wind turbines.  If this potential  “pathfinder” project was realised it would bring £1.5 to £3.5 million each year in revenue for community projects throughout East Lothian.

Should Crystal Rig 3 happen without our communities getting a chance to benefit?

During a recent speech in parliament Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy said “From meetings and discussions that I have had with companies, and not just big companies, I can report that many—probably not all, but many—desire to move away from paying as little as possible and want communities to feel that they are involved and valued, not exploited and abused. That is a very good thing and I strongly welcome it.”

What would happen if :-

  • Fred. Olsen Renewables (Natural Power) as a FCS Development partner, agree to work with Dunbar Community Energy Company, and partners, on the Crystal Rig 3 pathfinder project as a model for community energy projects on FCS estates.
  • The Scottish Government will maintain its’ support for community energy through schemes such as CARES and REIF.
  • The £50m Warm Homes Fund is launched and targeted at helping low-income communities access the benefits of energy generation
  • Communities are encouraged to invest some of the revenue to meet the Scottish Government fuel poverty and carbon reduction targets. Thus reducing the amount of energy we need and the cost of the energy we use.