Developers should be obliged to compensation homeowners and businesses who suffer financial loss

Discussion on community benefits focus on how the money might be spent on community projects.  This is fine as far as it goes if the community, not the developer, has the say on how the money is used.

However, no amount of new football strips, paint for the community hall etc is going to address the injustice suffered by local homeowners or small businesses who suffer real financial loss due to a renewable energy generation or transmission project being located near them.  There is currently no compensation available directly to these people (apart from risible promises of small annual reductions on electricity bills for homes very close to proposed transmission lines for a limited period of time which will not in any way compensate for the scale of loss suffered).

A Just Transmission should mean that no family or small business should have to directly bear financial losses. There should be a mandatory scheme of fair compensation, funded by developers but administered independently.

 

Why the contribution is important

Because ordinary people should not have to suffer financially as a result of loss of property value or business due to renewable energy generation or transmission schemes being located close to them.

by Raven1 on March 13, 2026 at 01:45PM

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Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 8 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Alexander53 March 13, 2026 at 19:28

    This is one of the most important issues relating to renewable developments and yet seems largely ignored. General community benefits do not necessarily compensate those directly affected by structures close to their home or business.

  • Posted by shonarosehall March 16, 2026 at 12:59

    Agree fully, but they should also be made to compensate for negative impacts on local residents health and well being, especially those previously living in peaceful, scenically beautiful, wildlife rich locations now suffering immense stress from the tsunami of industrial scale renewable energy development applications, infrasound etc. Increasing number of scientific studies now showing real serious harm.

  • Posted by LoreineatBingera March 17, 2026 at 15:34

    Many small communities in rural Scotland depend on tourism for their livelihoods and many use their homes as small hotels or BnBs. They depend on fresh local produce where possible but renewable developments are putting such significant constraints on road infrastructure, often single track roads, that it makes it impossible to carry on with daily living let alone attract visitors. Some visitors who do turn up more often than not cut short their stays because their vision of the landscape and local environment is so disrupted/destroyed they simply want to move on.

    These small local businesses should be compensated and this should not be a one off payment. It should be negotiated each year.
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