Inverness councillor's call to back community-owned energy schemes wins overwhelming Scottish Labour Party support at Glasgow conference

A call by Highand councillor Jimmy Gray to provide more support for community-owned energy schemes has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the Scottish Labour Party at its Glasgow conference.

Councillor Gray, who represents the Inverness Millburn ward and is a former city provost, called for a minimum of 25 per cent of community-owned energy to be stipulated in every new, renewed or repowered wind farm, telling the conference that this would make a massive difference in the Highlands in terms of local benefit.

“Community-owned energy projects deliver up to 30 times more local economic benefit than similar-sized corporate projects,” he said.

“Yet only one per cent of Scotland’s onshore renewable resource is community-owned – while in Denmark it is 40 per cent and other European countries are putting us to shame in this respect.

“The recent auction of offshore wind sites showed no credible Scottish Government plan to guarantee supply chain or jobs benefits. The green energy transition in Scotland employs less than 1000 people in the Highland and Islands – compared to 25,000 in oil and gas.”

Maximising community input across the green energy sector would, he stressed, ensure local people gain from investment, improved grid access and smart technology as well as tackling local fuel poverty.

His motion, on behalf of Inverness and Nairn Labour Party, and seconded by the Western Isles, won overwhelming support as delegates agreed with his demand for a Scottish Community Energy Agency to be set up to deliver increased local income and employment.

“I’m delighted with the response,” Councillor Gray said afterwards.

”The hydro schemes and the later oil and gas projects brought massive and enduring advantages to areas like the Highlands – but the Scottish Government’s green energy transition simply isn’t sparking anything like that.

“It’s a massive missed opportunity – but there’s time to turn it around. We need a new national agency to work with councils, community groups, social enterprises, landowners and the private sector to kick-start a community-owned energy drive.

“Countries like Denmark are showing the way and rural areas are being strengthened as a result. Let’s make it happen here.”

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.