Liaison meeting for giant hydro scheme
An inaugural meeting of the Coire Glas Community Liaison Group (CLG) was held last week via video conference.
The CLG is an opportunity for representatives of the community to contribute to the progress of Coire Glas, a proposed pumped storage hydro centre near Loch Lochy, which would be the first scheme of its type to be built in the UK for more than 30 years.
The inaugural meeting was chaired by Councillor Ben Thompson, whose Caol and Maillaig ward includes the Coire Glas site, and attended by representatives from Glengarry Community Council, Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and residents who live within five kilometres of the proposed site.
An update on the project was provided by SSE Renewables and terms of reference for future meetings were agreed.
Coire Glas received planning consent in October 2020 and SSE Renewables is currently conducting necessary investigative work before a final decision is made on whether to proceed with its construction.
The scheme would create enough capacity to power three million homes for periods of up to 24 hours and make a significant contribution towards Scottish and UK Government zero emission targets.
Councillor Thompson said: ‘I welcome SSE’s commitment to meaningful community engagement on the Coire Glas project and enjoyed chairing the inaugural meeting of the CLG. Our discussions were productive and should form a solid basis for effective dialogue throughout the Coire
Glas development. It’s exciting to see a Scottish firm, with strong links to Lochaber and the Highlands, developing an ambitious project in this area that could have a profound impact on providing a greener energy network for future generations.'
Ian Innes, Coire Glas project director, added: ‘Coire Glas has the potential to play a significant role in the delivery of reliable, clean energy to Scotland and the UK. The project is still in the early stages of development but, by initiating the CLG at this point, we will ensure the community is heard throughout the process.
‘We are grateful to everyone who took time to attend the inaugural CLG. It marks the start of a new chapter in our engagement on Coire Glas and we look forward to working with the group as the development progresses.’