Energy Security and Net Zero: Scotland Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business and Trade
Angus MacDonald
Main Page: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)Department Debates - View all Angus MacDonald's debates with the Department for Business and Trade
Energy Security and Net Zero: Scotland
Angus MacDonald Excerpts(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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Susan Murray
I absolutely agree. We have a real opportunity with Great British Energy, in the current environment, to take advantage of what the commercial companies are offering with regard to reducing costs for individual homeowners and to use digital technology to ensure that community energy generated into the grid benefits the communities that host the infrastructure that generates that energy.
Communities see the turbines, substations and pylons; as the grid expands, they see that infrastructure expand, too. They live with disruption during construction and operation, and too often they do not see fair value for the disruption that they face. That means that there is an opportunity here. The Government have already been developing the policy infrastructure. DESNZ published a working paper seeking views on the design of a potential mandatory community benefit scheme and the facilitation of shared ownership for low-carbon energy infrastructure. That is not a small thing; it is a recognition that we cannot build at the pace required without public consent, and public consent is strengthened when communities are well-informed and share in the long-term value.
Mr Angus MacDonald (Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire) (LD)
Do you agree that £9 million in total community benefit for the highlands, and £30 million for Scotland as a whole, is a paltry amount for a multibillion-pound industry?
Dr Rupa Huq (in the Chair)
Order. Can I just remind the hon. Member about use of the word “you”? I always get told off by the Deputy Speaker for it. “You” means me, because I am in the Chair. It should be, “Does the hon. Member agree?” But I think we get the point.