Orkney Islands Council has commissioned a report seeking to establish what a new electricity transmission link to the mainland could mean to the local economy, as the islands seek to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report will determine the Gross Value Added (GVA) - the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector - to the Orkney economy of a new electricity interconnector linking Orkney with the Scottish Mainland, over a 45 to 50 year period.
The report – which is being produced by economic advisers GHD - will seek to establish the benefits of the new cable and the renewable generation growth it can support.
Read more here - New report to establish value of interconnector to Orkney economy post-Covid
Argyll and Bute Council will invest more than £1.2 million in action to save energy and deliver progress in becoming a net zero carbon emissions organisation by 2045.
The steps planned are also expected to deliver financial savings that will cover the cost of the investment in ten years.
Read more here - Council agrees £1.2 million of energy saving actions (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
The City of Edinburgh Council has unveiled its draft plan to become a net zero organisation by 2030.
According to the most recent emissions footprint calculations for the Council, buildings make up 63% of the organisation’s emissions. Other energy consumption is 16%, fleet 9%, waste 8%, business travel 3% and water 1%.
And, as well as suggesting actions that the Council could take to reduce its impact on the environment, an Emissions Reduction Plan report also highlights opportunities to invest in skills and maximise external funding coming to the Council and the city.
Read more here – Journey to net zero Council emissions outlined in draft plan – The City of Edinburgh Council
Living lawns and wildflower planting are to be trialled in Cooper Park in Elgin to increase biodiversity and improve natural habitats.
Over the next three years Moray Council also aims to create up to eight new wildflower plantings a year across the region and is asking communities to help identify suitable locations for these.
Read more here - Living lawns and flowers wild for Moray’s biodiversity
Aberdeen City Council has announced Big Issue ShareBike Ltd as the operator of a new electric bike hire scheme.
The scheme will see about 450 ebikes initially being installed at various locations around the city and people will be able to book the bikes primarily through a smartphone app although web-based and telephone bookings will also be available.
Read more here - Big Issue and Sharebike are announced as joint operator for new ebike hire scheme (aberdeencity.gov.uk)
Angus Council has approved a five-year plan designed to encourage and deliver local community food growing.
The Angus Food Growing Strategy aims to increase local food growing, tackle food poverty in Angus and support local growers.
Producing more food locally will also play an important role in supporting reducing the carbon footprint of our food system.
Read more here - Angus Food Growing Strategy | Angus Council
Scotland’s first fully operational electric bin lorry is taking to the streets of North Lanarkshire, helping to reduce air pollution with zero emissions.
The lorry will collect an average of 28 tonnes of waste each day – 1,800 bins – using a single overnight charge to its 300kwh battery.
Read more here - New electric bin lorry is first for Scotland | North Lanarkshire Council
An action plan to secure carbon neutral status for Moray Council has been approved.
Moray Council’s strategy and action plan follows the Climate Emergency declared in June 2019 and aims to make the Council carbon neutral by 2030.
Actions include improving energy efficiency across the Council’s estate to have all buildings operated and owned by the Council – including schools - achieve a net zero carbon target by 2030. Increasing electric vehicle charging points, active travel and sustainability and recycling in schools also forms part of the aspirations.
Read more here - Moray Council formally adopts Climate Change Strategy
Aberdeen City Council is strengthening its commitment to energy transition and combating climate change as part of its spending plans for 2021/22 and the years beyond.
The newly approved annual budget includes a raft of measures to reduce carbon emissions, ranging from a hydrogen production hub to additional electric vehicle charging points to the further greening the Council’s own fleet.
Read more here - Council boosts green energy plans (aberdeencity.gov.uk)
North Lanarkshire Council has approved a masterplan to regenerate one of the largest brownfield sites in Europe.
The planning application for the former steelworks site at Ravenscraig, near Motherwell, was granted, giving the applicant – Ravenscraig Ltd – permission to develop the 376 hectares of derelict land.
The masterplan includes residential areas, education and community facilities, business and employment areas, open space including a town park, hotels, a new town centre with retail, leisure, business, housing and associated transport infrastructure.
More info here - Scotland's largest regeneration site approval | North Lanarkshire Council
Aberdeen City Council has approved a five-year plan which sets a net zero target for its assets and operations.
The members of Aberdeen City Council’s Full Council committee unanimously agreed the Climate Change Plan 2021-2025: Towards a Net Zero and Climate Resilient Council report which outlines actions to reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience to climate change.
The Climate Change Plan sets out the scope of the Council’s ambitions with net zero and interim targets for a reduction in carbon emissions from council assets and operations, indicates climate risks affecting the council, and it outlines the project priorities being taken forward to 2025.
Read more here - Five-year climate change plan for council approved (aberdeencity.gov.uk)
A revolutionary project that is transforming electric vehicle charging across Lanarkshire has now completed 10,000 charges.
‘Project PACE’, which was launched 18 months ago, is being delivered through a strategic partnership between SP Energy Networks and the Scottish Government and will create over 40 electric vehicle charging hubs by the end of spring this year.
The project will significantly increase the number of EV chargers across Lanarkshire.
Facilitated by North and South Lanarkshire Councils, in collaboration with Transport Scotland, the charging hubs have now been used over 10,000 times to charge electric vehicles across the regions.
Read more here - Electric Vehicle charging hits new milestone - South Lanarkshire View