By REBECCA SHEARER
Ayr played host to a discussion and information session on how local communities can benefit from offshore energy recently.
Fifteen people were in attendance and discussed the recent proposals made by the Scottish Government to encourage community benefit from offshore energy developments.
Another similar event is taking place today (23 July) at Fife Renewables Centre in Methil from 2.00pm-4.30pm.
Jennifer Ramsay, Community Benefit Officer at Local Energy Scotland explained; “Participants were keen to learn of the process and input their thoughts on how community funds should be set up and organised.”
“We were pleased to see lively discussions around topics such as how to identify the community which should benefit from any individual development. For example, the community benefit from the Solway windfarm at Robin Rigg is dealt with principally on the English side.”
The information session also featured a discussion on the technologies that should be considered when aiming to provide community benefit. Offshore wind energy was viewed as a more mature technology, whereas innovative wave and tidal developments are seen as ‘currently less commercial’.
The Scottish Government Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments are viewable at:
http://www.localenergyscotland.org/goodparactice
The deadline for written responses to the consultation is 21 August.
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