Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17648, in the name of Gillian Martin, on growing community-owned energy in Scotland. I invite members who...

The Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (Gillian Martin) SNP

I am grateful for the opportunity to open today’s debate and to shine an important spotlight on community-owned energy in Scotland. The Scottish Government ...

Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Has any consideration been given to how benefits will be spread to communities that might not, for example, be located next to a large wind farm, but might s...

Gillian Martin SNP

There are a number of things at play. The member will be aware that, after a great deal of encouragement from the Scottish Government, the UK Government has ...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

The cabinet secretary is setting out reasons why community ownership has significant benefits and there is very little dissent from that principle. Renewable...

Gillian Martin SNP

There are a few reasons for that. Historically, communities felt that they almost had to be engineers or to have an expert in their community, and one of the...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

Does the cabinet secretary believe that councils have an important role to play in supporting community organisations?

Gillian Martin SNP

It is the essence of community wealth building and community empowerment that local authorities work with those in their communities who want to take up some...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

What protection do your plans give to communities that do not want any more wind power infrastructure or any more battery storage?

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Always speak through the chair.

Gillian Martin SNP

This debate is about communities that want to have their own community-owned schemes, rather than being anything to do with planning or consents. If the memb...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I very much welcome the cabinet secretary’s outlining that support. Would she agree that we should also be thinking about support for local authorities, so t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I can give you the time back for some of the interventions, cabinet secretary.

Gillian Martin SNP

I am open to any suggestions that would mean having more local authority schemes. If there are any barriers in the way, I would like to investigate what they...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I advise members that we have a bit of time in hand, so those who take interventions will certainly get the time back. 14:36

Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I think that there will be a lot that we agree on this afternoon. Community-owned energy is becoming an increasingly important element in our energy producti...

Gillian Martin SNP

I can confirm that that is shared funding from both Governments. It has not been repurposed; it is new money. It is for the expansion of the capacity of CARE...

Douglas Lumsden Con

I thank the cabinet secretary for that important clarification. We often hear that funds have gone from one place to another, so it is good to hear that that...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

I understand the member’s point about skills and knowledge but, as a constituency MSP, I have had a number of retired engineers from the oil and gas sector c...

Douglas Lumsden Con

I absolutely agree with Audrey Nicoll. A lot depends on skilled people, but they are not always there for the duration because the process is so long.

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

I never thought that I would hear myself saying this, but I agree with Douglas Lumsden. It is quite difficult for certain communities to navigate their way t...

Douglas Lumsden Con

There is more that we can do; if we can give our local authorities more help so that they, too, can help in that process, that would be a good thing. Thirdl...

Gillian Martin SNP

I said to Mr Lumsden this morning that the legislative consent memorandum actually mandates community engagement, whereas at the moment that is voluntary. It...

Douglas Lumsden Con

Once again, the cabinet secretary takes the bits that she likes but ignores the other parts. The Government is taking away the right to a public inquiry and ...

Gillian Martin SNP

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The record will show that I said in committee this morning that the right to a public inquiry stays. Mr Lumsden is de...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Cabinet secretary, could I ask you perhaps to rephrase that last comment, please?

Gillian Martin SNP

From what Mr Lumsden has said, I fear that he is not taking on board the facts that I laid out this morning at committee.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Thank you. That was not a point of order. Please continue, Mr Lumsden.

Douglas Lumsden Con

I am sure that everyone knows that the right to an automatic public inquiry is being removed from our local communities. That is what is set out in the new l...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I welcome today’s debate because the issue of community energy is a crucial one for us to debate. As a Labour and Co-operative member, I am proud to be a mem...