Policy on Community Benefit for Renewable Energy Projects 

At an EGM on August 9, 2021, the Community Council adopted a Policy on Community Benefit for Renewable Energy Projects.

This states:

The council policy is that if any renewable energy schemes such as solar farms are proposed in the council area, the developers’ proposals must include some element of Community Benefit.  This could be:

• a guaranteed yearly cash payment linked to inflation, or infrastructure or capital projects of equal value. 

This should equate to an amount of money per MW of generating capacity, of an amount per MW per year agreed with the Community Council for the length of the scheme. The Community Benefit to be managed by a not-for-profit Community Interest Company set up to manage these funds for the benefit of the whole community.  

• Community Ownership of some of the scheme.

The community would be part-owner of the solar farm and receive a share of the profits. 
Inclusion of Community Ownership or Community Benefit in the proposals would go some way to acknowledge the substantial effect of these schemes on the landscape and population of the area and show a long-term commitment to the community who will host these schemes for generations to come.