Gabh pàirt

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to:

review and seek to update section 3.2 of the Energy Consents Unit: Good Practice Guidance for Applications under Section 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 to address the concerns of communities about the lack of meaningful, responsible, and robust voluntary and pre-application consultation by transmission operators on energy infrastructure projects
explore all available levers to strengthen community liaison and public participation for the lifecycle of energy infrastructure projects.

Petitioner: Margaret Tracey Smith

Status: Closed

Date published: 10 April 2024

11 September 2024: The Committee agreed to write to the Acting Minister for Climate Action, Ofgem, and the National Energy System Operator.

04 June 2025: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

14 January 2026: The Committee took evidence from—

Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, supported by Antonia Georgieva, Head of Battery Energy Storage Systems, Robert Martin, Head of Legislative Change and Governance, and Catherine Williams, Deputy Director, Onshore Electricity, Strategy and Consents, Scottish Government.

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.

11 February 2026: The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.