Community Wealth Building
There’s currently an important bill making its way through the Scottish Parliament – and we need your help over the next week!
The Community Wealth Building Bill
This bill could make an important contribution to Scotland having a people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people.
The bill sets a framework for building and keeping wealth in local communities across Scotland. Ways that wealth could be created and kept locally include through the buying of local goods and services, the ownership and use of land, and of course community ownership of renewable energy generation, transmission and storage.
Why we need your help
Currently the bill doesn’t mention energy at all. So, the aim is to get it amended so that community owned energy is embedded in the bill, to then be translated into action on the ground once the bill becomes an act.
Community Energy Scotland has drafted some amendments to do this. They’re numbered 40 – 45 inclusive, and 69. They’ve been tabled by Lorna Slater MSP.
All amendments will get looked at by the lead committee for the bill – the Economy and Fair Work Committee – at stage 2 which starts on Wednesday 14 January.
We need your help to get MSPs on that committee to support these amendments. If you live in the constituency or region of any of the MSPs on the Economy and Fair Work Committee then just a short email from you, as a constituent, between now and January 14 asking them to support amendments 40 – 45 and 69 would be a huge help.
The list of MSPs on the committee, and their contact details, are below.
When you email, you can keep it very simple and just say that you believe it’s important that community energy is specifically included in the Community Wealth Building Bill, as it’s such a huge contributor to generating and keeping wealth (not just financial but social too) local, and would they please support amendments 40-45 and 69. Or if you have more time you can add some extra detail about why community energy is important, using the text below or from your own knowledge or experience. If you’re involved in a community energy project of any sort then of course please do mention that too!
Why community owned energy is important for community wealth building
Community owned wind provides 34 times more financial benefit to local communities than privately owned windfarms. This boosts local economies, local businesses and supply chains. Community energy projects generate tenfold additional local employment and income impact, over and above the energy project itself, by reinvesting revenue in local businesses and initiatives.
An average of 70% of community groups’ expenditure is spent locally. In 2022 this amounted to just under £15m being directly used to support local economies.
We see how the income from community owned renewables is used for an array of things that benefit local people - not just financially but socially as well - such as insulating homes, providing community transport, re-opening or setting up local pubs and cafes, small business units and community gardens – and bringing the jobs that go with those things. Community ownership brings the benefits of the energy transition directly into communities, as well as control over how that is used and shared.
MSPs on the Economy and Fair Work Committee
Daniel Johnson MSP, Edinburgh Southern, Labour. Daniel.Johnson.msp@parliament.scot
Michelle Thomson MSP, Falkirk East, SNP.
Michelle.Thomson.msp@parliament.scot
Sarah Boyack MSP, Lothian region, Labour.
sarah.boyack.msp@parliament.scot
Willie Coffey MSP, Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, SNP. Willie.Coffey.msp@parliament.scot
Murdo Fraser MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife region, Conservative. Murdo.Fraser.msp@parliament.scot
Stephen Kerr MSP, Central Scotland, Conservative.
Stephen.Kerr.msp@parliament.scot
Gordon MacDonald MSP, Edinburgh Pentlands, SNP. Gordon.MacDonald.msp@parliament.scot
Kevin Stewart MSP, Aberdeen Central, SNP.
Kevin.Stewart.msp@parliament.scot