Ensure a fairer more just transition and more equitable distribution of community benefits by altering the siting of renewable energy developments..
Put a limit on the number and scale of major renewable energy developments and infrastructure in remote and rural areas such as the Highlands and Islands and instead site more such developments on brownfield sites closer to the energy end users in urban areas and then they can have "community benefits too"
Meanwhile small scale renewable energy options such as solar panels on roof tops and ground source heating where appropriate and better insulation for rural homes is what our rural areas need and not further destruction of the widlife rich, biodiverse, scenically beautiful peatladen, carbon capturing lands around us for buttons in so called community benefits.
Put BESS and renewable energy infrastructure on brownfield sites nearer to the big cities and overhead lines and pylons alongside motorways and over already industrialised areas and give these areas community benefits accordingly.
Fairer spread of community benefits and much better for the ecology and environment.
Why the contribution is important
The current trajectory is going to seriously irreparably damage Scotland's wildlife, ecology and biodiversity and environment. It is going to increase carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, instead of protecting the climate for future generations and is going to increase energy bills, the cost of living and taxation of the ordinary UK population.
It needs to be halted and completely remodelled with ecology and biodiversity, food sustainability and the health and well being of rural communities uppermost in decision making.
No amount of so called "community benefits" is going to compensate rural communities or future generations for the damage being done by this totally ridiculous, outdated and unjustifiable approach to Scotland's current energy strategy
by shonarosehall on March 16, 2026 at 01:53PM
Posted by LoreineatBingera March 17, 2026 at 14:17
Renewable Developments should form part of the Local Development Plan, as should grid infrastructure. At least this way local people have a say, at least know what is coming, rather than being faced with a fait accompli as they are at present, being unable to sell their homes and relocate.
Planning Authorities and Energy Consents Unit have both been considering applications in isolation rather than as co-located developments with significant cumulative impacts. Cumulative impacts are part of NPF4 consideration but as usual, profit before public good, seems to be the driving force and this stems from the Scottish Government not making it explicitly clear that NPF4 must be complied and implemented as a whole document. This means properly giving consideration to biodiversity, wildlife, woodlands and forests. Personally I am fed up with hearing that all this renewable development will bring local jobs. Utter rubbish. Firms installing renewable energy bring their own people who are specialists in certain functions. For all the renewable developments in Scotland, as a taxpayer, I am not seeing any financial benefit from Scotland's land and seascape being destroyed.
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