Coastal towns and rural regions will benefit from supporting the “nationally critical mission” that is turning Britain into a clean energy superpower, the government has revealed.
With views being sought from industry as it finetunes the plans, the government is proposing that coastal and rural communities should receive a cash boost for hosting key energy infrastructure, such as offshore wind and solar projects, that can then be spent directly on local priorities and services. This could include community centres, sports facilities, and employment programmes.
The government is pitching enshrining it into law that renewable developers must pay into community benefit funds, ensuring that infrastructure projects contribute to the lives of residents and local communities. There is also exploration within on how communities could own a stake in renewable energy infrastructure through shared ownership.
Specific views are being sought on which types of energy infrastructure should be required to pay into community benefit funds, with Head of Policy at Renewable UK, James Robttom, stating: “We welcome the government’s consultation and will engage with it to ensure that the benefits received by local communities hosting energy infrastructure are proportionate and continue to meet their needs. Renewable energy developers are good neighbours and remain committed to providing benefits at an appropriate level to enable local communities to thrive all over the country.”
