Energy Charter launched in Offaly as wind and solar projects continue apace

Offaly Public Participation Network (PPN) is the independent and collective voice of over 700 community and voluntary groups & organisations in Offaly and the PPN’s main function is to represent the voice of the community at local decision making levels.

As wind and solar developments continue apace across Offaly’s Peatlands, the PPN membership identified at the November Plenary in 2023, that a series of collectively agreed guidelines would enable them to meet energy developments from a position of strength and informed opinion. The resulting Community Energy Charter is a perfect example of the potential in the PPN representative mechanism, outlining the community position across a spectrum of themes arising from the energy transition in Offaly.

Awarded LEADER funding for the Energy Charter project, Offaly PPN and Green Offaly have worked in partnership with the PPN membership to develop the Charter. A series of three full day facilitated workshops took place at Charleville Castle and 2 detailed surveys went out to the wider community for feedback.

Themes explored in the Energy Charter workshops included Energy Communities, Community ownership, land use, developer engagement, Bord na Móna, energy democracy, adequate share of Community Gains funds and much more besides.

It is noted by experts in the field that Energy Developers haven’t agreed as an industry what Community engagement needs beyond the tick box. This Charter serves to address that deficit by letting developers know what Communities in Offaly expect and what is ‘Just’ to those who live in proximity to large energy developments.

The Charter also outlines what a fair win-win community-development partnership looks like and produces a set of collectivity agreed guidelines. The Charter will be reviewed and updated as necessary every two years to keep pace with the shifting energy marketplace and EU, national, regional and local policies.

It is hoped that the Offaly Community Energy Charter will set a precedent for Communities across Ireland. Our survey informed us that there is collective support for renewables, for energy transformations and for new forms of energy participation which can lead to true energy democracy. A

t present it is fair to say that governments and policy makers believe that only large-scale private energy developments are capable of addressing the climate crisis. The profits generated from these developments and the ongoing energy crisis has led to deep mistrust and communities feeling left behind.

As a result, developments are not acquiring the ‘social legitimacy’ which is needed to deliver a truly Just Transition. Citizen engagement is seen as a crucial component in achieving renewable energy targets and yet as developments grow in size and scale they will be increasingly contested at the local level, causing significant delays to the energy transition.

Ongoing crises are facilitating a deeper process whereby communities who feel that their voice is no longer heard or given legitimacy, are coming together to seriously think about what it is that they want/need from the many transitions occurring.

As a result, communities are seeking to self-determine clearly articulated visions of their own local futures. The creation of this Charter is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved by embracing a new way of working together, by harnessing the power of the collective voice and signals the beginning of an exciting journey for our present and future communities.

The Charter was officially launched by special guest Eanna Ni Lamhna and a creative interpretation from artists on the theme 'Energy' will also be projected throughout.

A collaborative piece of work including Offaly PPN members, Green Offaly, Offaly Co.Co. Climate Action Team, OLDC & Offaly Local Community Development Committee.

This Charter was made possible with the assistance of Leader funding.

A special thanks to all who participated in the Workshops and completed the Surveys.

The information garnered from both the workshops and surveys helped bring the Charter to fruition.

Thanks to Charleville Castle for providing the venue for the Workshops, a great space for collective thinking and creative exploration.