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The Power Shift: Investigating Scotland’s Green Energy Boom

Scotland is at the forefront of a green energy revolution, with wind farms, solar projects, and other renewable developments transforming landscapes and communities. But who really benefits from this shift – and who is being left behind?

The Power Shift is a collaborative investigative journalism project bringing together reporters from across Scotland to explore how land use is changing, who holds the power, and what this means for communities on the ground.

With support from the Tenacious Journalism Awards, we’ll be digging into key questions such as:

  • Community benefits – Where is the money from green energy projects going, and is it reaching the people who need it most?
  • Land ownership – How is the renewable boom influencing who controls the land?
  • Absentee landlords & developers – Who’s making decisions about energy projects, and how much say do local communities really have?
  • Environmental & social impact – Are green energy projects truly sustainable, and what unintended consequences are they bringing?
  • Power & influence – Who are the key players shaping Scotland’s energy future?

Through in-depth reporting, a dedicated podcast series, and cross-community collaboration, we aim to shed light on these issues and amplify voices from across the country.

Project Articles

The packed hall at the Beauly convention of Community Councils | Photo by Vox Vallium

‘We need a stronger voice’:  52 Highland community councils unite to demand a say in Scotland’s energy future

Community councils from across the vast Highland Council area came together in Beauly on Saturday …

Garth Wind Turbines coast by Hazel Falck

Study finds community energy generates 100x more wealth than corporate counterparts

New research shows a ‘staggering imbalance’ in who benefits from Scotland’s renewable energy boom.  A …

Introducing: The Power Shift – a collaborative investigation into impact of Scotland’s green energy boom

The Power Shift  is a major new collaborative journalism project from the Scottish Beacon which …

Attendees at the Community Power Event by hosted by Community Energy Scotland, courtesy of CES

Repowering: Communities at the heart of Scotland’s renewable future

Trying to keep up with the constantly evolving government policies aimed at mitigating climate change …

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