The British government consults whether they should make community benefits a legal obligation for developers of renewable energy.
Communities that generate renewable energy projects can benefit from new community facilities, better transport connections and investments in apprenticeships under the plan.
The government consults on the introduction of the legal mandate as part of its plan plan. The locals would decide where the investment would go; The plan has also explained how communities could have an interest in the infrastructure of renewable energy that they organize through shared property.
It would set minimal amounts for the Fund for Community Benefits based on the size of infrastructure projects, starting with tens of thousands a year at the smaller end and the reach of millions for large -scale developments.
Earlier this year, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced that as part of the government’s plan for change, households who live in the vicinity of new or improved electricity transmission pylons would receive Energy bill discounts of up to £ 2,500 in 10 years.
The government is looking for input about the proposal and asks for feedback about which types of energy infrastructure should be needed to pay for funds from the community, including energy storage and renewable energy generation.
Ames Robottom, head of policy at Trade Association for Offshore Generation Technology Developers Renewableuk, said: “Renewable energy developers have a long history of offering a wide range of benefits for local communities, such as community benefits funds that support local initiatives, Electricity Initials, Employment Inspections.”
Gemma Grimes, director of policy and delivery for Solar Industry Trade Association Solar Energy UK repeated this sentiment and said that “solar farms already offer a wide range of voluntary community benefits”.
She warned that it is important to maintain flexibility and to ensure that communities have a say in what they win. Grimes said: “Adopting a mandatory system risks limiting the ways in which a community can benefit from hosting infrastructure, undermining the goals that we all share and make it harder to be a good neighbor.”
The government touches on how the scheme would be maintained, notes: “We would not intend to link community benefits to the planning system, given the established principle that community benefits are not a material consideration in taking decision -making.”
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