Decisions around which community or communities are to benefit may or may not have yet been made. Ultimately it is for the renewable energy business to decide which communities will receive community benefits (the “area of benefit”) and, if multiple communities are involved, how this will be split up between communities or centrally managed for the whole area.
Determining the geographical area of benefit can be challenging, no matter which factors are applied. Early discussion between the community(ies) and the renewable energy business will help to shape the area of benefit in a way that considers local context. Guidance on identifying the “area of benefit” for community benefit is given in the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles for Community Benefit from Onshore Renewables. This suggests using community councils neighbouring the renewable energy project as a starting point and then considering the relevance of other factors.
Communities local to the renewable energy project usually wish to be involved in determining the area of benefit for any package of benefits and the Good Practice Principles suggest they should. However, the Scottish Government is keen to encourage renewable energy businesses and communities to consider widening the area of benefit, but at a scale that is commensurate with the community benefits package that is being discussed. If a community feels it has a case to be included within an area of benefit, then it should make representations to the renewable energy business at the earliest possible stage.
Regional or sub-regional funds have emerged in recent years. These arrangements may make sense in some situations, but any decision to widen the area of benefit should form part of the discussions between the community living within the development area and the renewable energy business. These types of arrangements are likely to be most successful when implemented with grassroots engagement and support. Communities may wish to check with the renewable energy business on how they intend to make decisions on this element, if it is being considered.
