Labour calls for community benefit from Moray Firth wind farms

THE Labour group on Moray Council have called on Moray Firth wind farm developments to provide guaranteed community benefit and local economic development.

The demand forms part of the group's response to the current Caledonia wind farm consultation.

Responding to the consultation, leader of the Labour group Councillor Sandy Keith said: "The current situation whereby the Moray Firth produces enough electricity for a million homes, yet Moray has one of the country's highest levels of fuel poverty, is untenable."

Figures provided by the Scottish Government in May showed that offshore wind provided just £150,000 of community benefit funds across the whole of Scotland in the previous 12 months.

Councillor Keith also welcomed the commitment by Ocean Winds (lead developer of the proposed Caledonia wind farm) to provide £46 million for developing a local supply chain to manufacture and service this and other wind farms.

However, he has warned that the Scottish Government must secure a similar commitment from other offshore wind developers, as well as ensuring that all supply chain commitments are binding and enforceable.

Commenting on the consultation response, Councillor Keith said: "The current Scottish Government has auctioned off vast swathes of Scotland's waters without securing any public ownership, and without robust, enforceable local supply chain commitments.

"It's time for the Scottish Government to use its powers and ensure the Just Transition isn't just another meaningless catchphrase disguising its own failures."

The Caledonia wind farm consultation is open until the end of the year at https://caledonia.virtual-engage.com/