Cowal Community Energy adds three new trusts

Cowal Community Energy Expands Coalition in Fight for Greater Community Share in Local Renewables.

Cowal Community Energy (CCE), the community-led coalition of development trusts working to keep the maximum possible renewable energy profits within Cowal for Cowal communities, has significantly strengthened its position with three new trusts joining as members. The three are Lochgoil Community Trust, Strachur & District Community Development Company and Tighnabruaich & District Development Trust, bringing the total number of member organisations to eight out of the ten eligible development trust areas in Cowal.

Peter Roy, Chair of Strachur & District Community Development Company said: “We are delighted to join the other members of CCE in working together to bring the maximum benefits to Cowal, in the expectation of long-term transformational benefits to our communities .”

Welcoming the new members, Graeme Murray, Chair of CCE, said: “CCE now represents the great majority of Cowal’s area and population and we hope the remainder of Cowal will also join us in our efforts to ensure that if any new renewable energy projects are developed, the community will have a real say in how those projects will develop and benefit their locality, ensuring the maximum possible share of profits from wind farms will remain within Cowal for the long term.”

Exploring Options

Since the initial rejection from Forestry and Land Scotland of the community bid to own the whole of the repowered Cruach Mhor wind farm, CCE has worked alongside Community Energy Scotland and other supporting organisations to find an alternative approach to ensure that the largest possible proportion of the profits from the wind farm are retained in Cowal through Community Shared Ownership. Subject to the approval of the community in Colintraive and Glendaruel, CCE will engage with the new developer, Belltown Power, with the aim of securing the maximum community share in order to meet the aspirations of the Colintraive & Gendaruel community as well as those of Cowal as a whole.

CCE will also be having ongoing discussions with Statkraft, the developer of the proposed Giant’s Burn Windfarm (50.4 MW), on Community Shared Ownership in the event that planning permission is granted for this development, and they anticipate agreeing initial terms over the coming months.

While these projects will take several years to come to fruition, CCE is in for the long haul and committed to retaining the maximum possible long term financial benefits for Cowal for any investments and developments which occur in Cowal. CCE say that it is vitally important to be engaging now so as not to miss out on this opportunity.

Alan Stewart, a Director of CCE said: “It is important to note that CCE neither supports nor opposes any of the new wind farms being proposed for Cowal. Our view is that the decision as to whether or not they go ahead will ultimately be taken through the planning process. Our sole aim and focus is on making sure that Cowal receives the maximum possible social and economic benefit from any proposal that might get consented. To achieve that, we need to start our work now.”

With major renewable developments already operational and more proposed, the stakes for local communities continue to grow. The success of CCE's shared ownership negotiations could determine whether millions of pounds in profits flow out of the area or remain in Cowal to fund lasting projects to benefit its communities.

Launch of CCE Website

Cowal Community Energy is also delighted to announce the launch of its new website: www.cowalcommunityenergy.org.

The website will serve as a central hub for information about the organisation, its members, and ongoing projects. Visitors can learn more about the group’s mission, explore the latest news, and stay up to date on current negotiations and developments.

Dinah MacDonald, Chair of Cowal Community Energy, said: "Our website is an important step in making our work visible and accessible. We want to keep our community fully informed and engaged as we move forward with any projects that can deliver real benefits for Cowal."

CCE now represents eight Development Trusts in the Cowal Peninsula:

• Benmore and Kilmun Community Development Trust

• Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust

• Dunoon Community Development Trust

• Lochgoil Community Trust

• Sandbank Community Development Trust

• South Cowal Trust

• Strachur and District Community Development Company

• Tighnabruaich District Development Trust