Associate feature: Community wealth building in our DNA

The new First Minister’s Programme for Government statement last month was understandably focussed on some high profile priorities, but formal confirmation that a Community Wealth Building Bill will be introduced will be hugely significant for communities across Scotland. And it’s significant for us at Muirhall Energy, too.

We have long advocated for a long-term partnership approach that sees the benefits of renewable energy shared sustainably and for the long-term with the communities who are partners in each development. It’s our view that community wealth building should be in the DNA of the green power revolution, and in that context we welcome the prospect of legislation on community wealth building that will further embed its core principles nationwide.

Whether it is site procurement, community engagement, commercial opportunities, shared ownership or community benefit, our focus should be to build capacity, sustainability and investment in the areas where we develop our projects.

Further support through legislation will be helpful in making clear to industries like ours the way in which we should assess the long term footprint of our operations, and it’s in that belief that we look forward to engaging with MSPs as the Bill makes its way through Holyrood in the coming months.

Communities across Scotland are thinking the same. They are building greater expertise in knowing what to expect of developer engagement - part of the reason we invest in genuine, proactive community engagement ahead of individual applications. But we, and our partners in communities across Scotland, will welcome guidance on the best way to leave the most enduring, positive legacy securing wealth for future generations. It is mission critical to our overall approach to supporting our national move towards net zero.

This wealth building approach is an idea whose time has come.

This article is sponsored by Muirhall Energy Limited. 

www.muirhallenergy.co.uk