Open spaces in Milton and Easterhouse have been earmarked for community-led energy projects that will bring benefits back into the community.
The four spaces – one in Milton and three in Easterhouse – will make over 5.5 hectares of land available to community organisations for the development of renewable energy initiatives that will generate long lasting, benefits for the communities they serve.
Allocated through the council’s newly unveiled Community Renewable Energy Framework (CREF), each space is an opportunity for community organisations to determine which approach to renewable energy is the best for their community.
We will provide support to community organisations throughout the process, in collaboration with Local Energy Scotland (LES).
LES has worked successfully with communities all over Scotland to help them develop their ideas for renewable energy systems with any profits used for the benefit of local neighbourhoods.
The council is now inviting interested parties to come forward with their proposals for the sites by late August this year. Workshops where community organisations can receive help with their proposals and ask any questions will be held in late July.
Any applications in relation to the sites will have to demonstrate how the local community will benefit from the project.
Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate, sees the CREF as a way to both empower communities and cut the carbon emissions associated with climate change.
Councillor Millar said: “This is a great opportunity for local organisations to take control of often unused spaces and turn them into something valuable for their community.
“We will work closely with any organisations that come forward and express an interest in running a community renewable energy project on one of these four sites. There will be a lot of support available to help local groups find the energy solution that works best for them and the site they have identified.
“The prize for any of the community groups that get involved will be the opportunity to develop a space within their area to generate not only clean, renewable energy but also to bring wider benefits for their local community.
“The plus for the council is that this new framework will support the growth of renewable energy in the city and that will take us another step towards to becoming a city with net zero carbon emissions.”
Local Energy Scotland are responsible for administering Scottish Government’s CARES fund and bring years of experience supporting community energy projects.
Chris Morris, Local Energy Scotland Manager said: “The Community Renewable Energy Framework is a pioneering model of collaboration to support community energy development. Local Energy Scotland have wide-ranging experience in providing support for community energy projects. We are looking forward to working with local groups through the CREF as they begin to develop their renewable energy projects.”
Further information and application details
Full details can be found at www.glasgow.gov.uk/communityenergy and interested communities are invited to submit to the Council a Pre-Application Form that outlines their proposal for their preferred site by August 28 this year.
Pre-Application Forms can be sent to the council at: communityenergy@glasgow.gov.uk.
A workshop to help interested communities with their Pre-Application and answer any further questions will be held on July 29 this year. Anyone interested in attending should contact – communityenergy@glasgow.gov.uk