Energising Moray receives £24,000 to investigate Clash Gour Wind Farm opportunity

A LOCAL community organisation has been given £24,000 to investigate an opportunity for investment at Clash Gour Wind Farm.

Energising Moray, which aims to build an organisation who will investigate possible renewable energy opportunities for the whole of Moray, has received the grant from the Scottish Government.

A steering group comprising of community councils, development trusts and other third sector organisations has been formed to explore the community shared ownership offer presented by the Clash Gour Wind Farm.

The organisation is not yet fully incorporated, but the grant from the Scottish Government will allow an Energising Moray steering group, chaired by Graham Hilditch, to appoint a project manager and seek the legal and financial advice needed to formally set the group up.

Mr Hilditch said: "Energising Moray came about following a consultation event held by Force 9 Energy in November 2017 called Community Ownership in Renewable Energy attended by a number of community councillors and interested people across Moray.

"There were a number of speakers at the event who set out what shared ownership in renewable energy projects was, why it was important, how it could be achieved, where it had happened, and what that had meant for the communities involved.

"We were also informed on the specific details of the offer of shared ownership in the Clash Gour Wind Farm. The event got a number of attendees thinking about what shared ownership in Clash Gour could mean for Moray communities."

All of Moray's community council chairs meet regularly under the Joint Community Councils of Moray (JCC) initiative to discuss common issues across the Moray Council area.

The JCC held a conference in May 2019 to discuss how to approach the shared ownership opportunity, during which Energising Moray emerged as an executive group of the JCC.

Energising Moray also hopes to be able to advise local groups on renewable energy and green technologies.

Many benefits of reduced carbon emission have been highlighted during the coronavirus crisis, and group chair Graham Hilditch said there is a desire to continue this process as we come out of lockdown.

“We propose that eventually the new body will facilitate, communicate and promote other renewable energy and insulation schemes across Moray," he said.

“The group will raise awareness of new ideas, allow communities to engage and link up and help communities who wish to source schemes and funding."

The following organisations have to date signed an MoU in the terms set out By Force 9 Energy: Transition Town Forres, Forres Area Community Trust, Finderne Development Trust, Forres Community Council, Knockando Community Trust, Third Sector Initiative Moray, Elgin Community Council, Heldon Community Council, Cullen and Deskford Community Council, Lossiemouth Community Council, Ekopia Social Investments Limited, Finderne Community Council, Burghead and Cummingston Community Council.