Commenting on Scottish Renewables’ press release ‘Wind farm community cash hits £8.8m-a-year record high’ Dr Richard Dixon – Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland said,
“Communities across Scotland are benefiting from renewable energy schemes in their area. Communities should be encouraged to take ownership of these projects so that they further benefit from the transition away from dirty energy. Community ownership allows people to have control over their energy future and builds broader support for renewables.
Local Energy Scotland’s figures revealed that Scotland’s onshore wind industry now invests nearly £9 million in community projects every year.
Dr Dixon continued,
“Community power is a big success story in Scotland but we can do so much more. We are urging the Scottish Government to increase their current target for community and locally owned energy for 2020 and to set an even more ambitious target for 2030.
“People across Scotland are already implementing real, proven solutions to climate change. The energy revolution has begun, and leaders must support it and commit to keeping fossil fuels in the ground.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Scottish Renewables Press statement http://www.scottishrenewables.com/news/wind-farm-community-cash-hits-88m-year-record-high/
2. Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Community Power campaign aims to win public support for the transition to renewables whilst ensuring that communities can benefit. Community Power is a European campaign with partners in a dozen countries supporting and encouraging communities to run their own energy schemes.
3. Friends of the Earth Scotland is:
* Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organization
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 75 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups. www.foe-scotland.org.uk
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