Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 13d

Great role at another great organisation!

Possible @wearepossible.bsky.social · 17d

We're hiring a Community Heat and Energy Project Manager to help lead impactful clean energy projects for local communities.

If you're committed to creating sustainable energy solutions and empowering communities, we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply here 👉 https://bit.ly/3ICNQfK

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 17d

"Greenpeace UK published a report setting out how the government could save households and businesses £5.1 billion a year on their energy bills, by removing gas-fired power plants from the wholesale electricity to stop gas from setting prices." www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/greenpe...

Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 17d

This is why we need to price electricity differently and stop pegging it to the wholesale price of gas. Especially in Scotland where most of our electricity comes from renewables!

Renewables produce much cheaper electricity, but we're not feeling the benefit. The wholesale market needs transformed

Greenpeace UK @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social · 20d

🚨 Gas companies are hiking our energy bills to rake in huge profits.

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 18d

Interested? Help us urge our politicians to support more community power 👉 communityenergy.scot/manifesto-fo...

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 18d

My highlights from @cescotland.bsky.social conference:
> @lesleyriddoch.bsky.social urging: "take back the power" ⚡
> Youth panellist on working in community energy: "being part of something that helps my neighbours, my friends, the people around me"
> @ellengrunewald.bsky.social on heat networks!

Two people sit at a round table. Water bottles in the foreground. A branded banner on the left. A woman with long white hair is speaking, in front of a big presentation screen.

Four people in the middle of the shot are sitting down, facing other people sitting facing away from the camera. Two of the people facing away from the camera are men with white hair. The people facing towards the camera are younger. There is a presentation screen behind them with a blue background, in front of an aubergine wall.

Three people are sitting on chairs on the right side of the shot. A presentation screen is to the left, and a woman in a chair is gesturing back towards it. A man sits on a chair facing away from the camera. The wall behind the screen is aubergine coloured. The screen has a map on it.

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 25d

Great to have the First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social come out to the Mass Climate Lobby.

Now Scottish Government must turn words into action and use the Climate Plan to make homes warmer, bills cheaper, transport greener.

Public money must support those who are struggling, not tech bros!

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland @sccscot.bsky.social · 25d

@johnswinney.bsky.social attended our mass climate lobby and heard from his constituents about the need for action for a fairer, healthier, safer Scotland that plays its fair part to tackle the climate crisis.

A group of people stand outside Scottish Parliament with placards.

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Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Mark Ruskell @markruskell.bsky.social · 25d

Great to hear from people across Mid Scotland and Fife on a range of issues including housing stock, protecting the environment for the next generation, solar on new homes, farming and land management, marine protected areas and much more.

Thanks to @sccscot.bsky.social for organising a great event

Mark meeting with constituents in a large hall.

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 25d

Thank you @lornaslater.bsky.social for coming to meet with constituents today! We covered:
🌻 Nature restoration
🌊 Flood prevention
💰 Funding for community action
🛩 Make polluters pay

Please keep pushing for a strong Climate Plan that reduces inequality & improves lives! ##ActNowChangeForever

People sit around a table with a black tablecloth. Some are smiling and looking at the camera. The walls are white witha glass rectangle along the length.

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Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Mark Ruskell @markruskell.bsky.social · 25d

I'm looking forward to hearing from lots of my constituents this afternoon at the @sccscot.bsky.social mass lobby. Lots of interesting discussions to be had about the climate plan, energy, transport and nature & agriculture.

Graphic reads:
Get ready for Scotland's mass climate lobby. Act now change forever.

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 25d

Great to be at Scotland's Mass Climate Lobby today, with over 500 other concerned constituents!

Looking forward to meeting with MSPs including my constituency MSP @colinbeattiemsp.bsky.social

#ActNowChangeForever
@sccscot.bsky.social @cescotland.bsky.social

A woman stands behind a stall with a teal banner. Two pull up banners are on her left. There is a glass wall behind her, and green vegetation.

4 people are on a stage. One woman is standing and holding a mic, behind a podium. Projected on the wall it says "Scotland Mass Climate Lobby".

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 26d

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Will this convince the UK Government to stop the flow of weapons components to Israel?

Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, UN commission of inquiry says

The panel finds that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out against Palestinians during the war.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · 28d

Looking forward to this Mass Climate Lobby!

I'll be representing @cescotland.bsky.social at the stalls, and also as a constituent for a meeting with Lothian MSPs.

There will be over 500 members of the public there, who all feel strongly about climate action. 🔥⛈️🌲🌊 Hope we get a good MSP turnout!

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland @sccscot.bsky.social · Sep 11

We are 1 week away from Scotland's biggest ever climate lobby!

500+ have signed up to meet MSPs and we can't wait to bring everyone together to talk about action for a healthier, fairer, safer Scotland.

Please remember the event is now fully booked, so do only come along if you've registered!

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · Sep 12

Also thanks to @shona-mcintosh.bsky.social for being such an advocate of the East Lothian Heat project!

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · Sep 12

Brilliant event yesterday on Not-for-Profit heat networks! There is real desire for heating systems run in the public interest. Thanks to @sarahboyack.bsky.social MSP for attending.

For more info see my post here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
@ellengrunewald.bsky.social @edinbric.bsky.social

A man stands in front of two big screens with presentation slides on them. There are several people sitting in chairs facing him, some are talking. There is a wood panelled ceiling and wooden walls.

A woman presents slides on a big screen. The slide shows a map of a coastal area, with yellow and white text boxes on it.

A man stands in front of a presentation screen and holds a mic, speaking to the audience. The slide shows a modern glass building with trees inside and out. Black text at the top says 'Political driver: using black bin waste to keep vulnerable people warm.'

Three women stand and smile at the camera. There are a few people talking behind them, in front of pull-up banners which are mainly green.

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · Sep 11

Very concerning. Regulators protect our environment, for all of us. This prioritises the few, again.

Reeves said the Dept for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, now led by former City minister, Emma Reynolds was focused on how to facilitate growth rather than find reasons to say no to development

Rachel Reeves tells private equity bosses she plans to shut down more regulators

Chancellor stopped short of saying which regulators were in government’s crosshairs

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Dr Craig Dalȝell @thecommongreen.scot · Sep 8

This would be a game-changing policy. Scotland could progressively transfer all renewables into public ownership by transferring assets at end-of-lease to public energy companies (just like Scotland did with ScotRail).

Putting them into community hands would be particularly empowering.

Community Energy Scotland @cescotland.bsky.social · Sep 8

Ask #2 is to use public land to boost community energy. 📈

When new leases are issued for repowering windfarms, community energy companies should have ‘first dibs’.

We could meet the target (👇) by transferring 1/3rd of the renewables on public forestry land into community hands.

🎥 bit.ly/4nc2lpD

Landscape photo with trees, tracks and a shed in the foreground. The background has a loch and mountains. White text reads 'Ask #2: use public land to boost community energy'.

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Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Community Energy Scotland @cescotland.bsky.social · Sep 8

Ask #2 is to use public land to boost community energy. 📈

When new leases are issued for repowering windfarms, community energy companies should have ‘first dibs’.

We could meet the target (👇) by transferring 1/3rd of the renewables on public forestry land into community hands.

🎥 bit.ly/4nc2lpD

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Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Community Energy Scotland @cescotland.bsky.social · Sep 8

📣We’ve published our manifesto recommendations for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections!

It’s clear that our energy system isn’t working for ordinary people. Communities must have more influence, ownership and feel more benefit from our energy system.

👀👉 communityenergy.scot/manifesto-fo...

Landscape photo with golden colours, with water in the foreground, dark islands with two wind turbines, a low sun shining on the water. White text above says 'Scottish Community Coalition on Energy Manifesto Recommendations'.

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · Sep 6

This is fascinating. As Cllr @shona-mcintosh.bsky.social says, like something out of a Dicken's novel.

Great that the rent will all go to the Common Good Fund. 💰🏡

www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/2540779...

Lawyer’s bequest set to fund six new homes in Haddington

SIX new homes on a former hospital site could be built using money left to an East Lothian town by a former resident.

www.eastlothiancourier.com

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Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Ross Greer (he/him) @ross-greer.bsky.social · Sep 4

In Scotland billionaires can get a 100% tax break on their shooting estates, but the poorest are hounded under a council tax debt system four times harsher than England.

For my first FMQ as @scottishgreens.org co-leader I asked John Swinney to support Green plans to put that right.

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Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Community Energy Scotland @cescotland.bsky.social · Sep 3

Great to see @michaelshanksmp.co.uk visiting one of our members Callander Community Hydro this past weekend!

Michael Shanks MP @michaelshanksmp.co.uk · Aug 29

A dreich day means lots of water flowing through Callander Community Hydro - generating clean power for the grid and money directly into the local community.

This is the sort of project we want to see much more of - power owned by and benefiting local communities.

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · Aug 27

Devastating decision! This will harm the marine environment, endangered wild salmon and other coastal jobs, not to mention the salmon which are essentially factory farmed. 😰

Ariane Burgess MSP @ariane-burgess.bsky.social · Aug 26

🚨 The Scottish Government has approved an experimental fish farm at Loch Long against the advice of the National Park and planning reporter.
🐟 This threatens our coastal waters and the integrity of our National Parks.
📢Join us to pause new salmon farm licences: greens.scot/ProtectScotlandsWaters

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · Aug 27

Really looking forward to this!

Community Energy Scotland @cescotland.bsky.social · Aug 27

📣Join Scotland's mass lobby on climate and nature on September 18th!

Register your attendance at the link below and write to your MSP to let them know you're coming.

Let's act now and change forever! 🌍
@sccscot.bsky.social #actnowchangeforever

www.stopclimatechaos.scot/campaign/mas...

Climate Mass Lobby - Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

www.stopclimatechaos.scot

Reposted by Amanda Grimm

Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social · Aug 27

I am sickened by the relentless demonisation of refugees.

No refugee underfunded a school.

No refugee closed a hospital.

No refugee took away support from the sick and disabled.

We need solutions not scapegoats. Stop blaming refugees and tax the rich instead!

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Amanda Grimm @amandafgrimm.bsky.social · Aug 27

Really enjoyed the @dtascotland.bsky.social annual conference!

It brought home the transformative impact of community projects to improve quality of life.

I spoke at a jam-packed session on #communityenergy, with Local Energy Scotland, @democraticfinance.bsky.social and Arran Community Renewables.

Four people on a stage, with a big screen behind them. Three people are sitting down and looking at a person standing at a podium.

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