MP calls for the people to share in renewable energy wealth

Malcolm Bruce, Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon, has today tabled two parliamentary motions calling on the Government to create a national planning policy specifically for renewable energy projects and to ensure that communities hosting such projects receive economic benefit from them.

Malcolm Bruce said:
“We are moving towards realising the great potential of renewable energy resources in Scotland. I am calling on the Government to ensure Scotland receives the full economic and environmental benefits of such a move.

“Scotland has the potential to generate clean energy over and above the country's own needs, energy which can then be exported to other parts of the United Kingdom. Renewable energy therefore represents a great opportunity for the people of Scotland to share in the benefits reaped from harnessing the power of Scotland's natural resources. I shall be pressing the Government to create a framework in which communities hosting projects like wind farms receive a direct share in the economic benefits.

“The positive case for renewable energy requires information and understanding. People need reassurance that development of renewable energy is promoted in an environmentally friendly way. It is for this reason that I have tabled a parliamentary motion calling for national planning guidelines to be drawn up for renewable energy projects. These guidelines would take account of such things as areas of outstanding natural beauty, the flight patterns of migratory birds and visual amenity.”

Notes:

The Early Day Motions tabled by Malcolm Bruce MP are:

COMMUNITY SHARE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS

This House calls on the Government to encourage community share ownership of renewable energy projects that will ensure direct economic benefit to communities supporting such developments; and calls on the Government to promote renewable energy through community awareness and involvement campaigns to enable the public to take a full role in the decision making processes for the planning applications of renewable energy projects.

INDICATIVE PLANNING FOR WIND FARMS

This House calls on HM Government to establish indicative planning guidelines for new wind farm developments and to use its review of the national planning policy guidance note PPS22 to strengthen existing planning guidance for renewable energy projects; further, this House believes there is a need for the clarification of national policy concerning the building of wind farms, and calls for such a statement to set clear criteria that would take account of wind profile as well as visual amenity, migratory birds, aviation issues and designated areas of natural beauty, and provide an agreed model for local authorities to follow when considering wind farm planning applications with a view to creating greater awareness among planners and the wider community of the positive case for wind energy.