By REBECCA SHEARER
As part of its campaign to get a Yes vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum, the Scottish Green Party has highlighted what it sees as the opportunities for Scotland to make the most of its renewable energy potential.
A recent briefing by the Greens reports that the renewables industry employs 11,000 people, which is gradually increasing. Further, Scotland is said to have the offshore engineering skills required to make marine renewables a success and produce thousands more jobs in areas such construction, grid development and research.
Green MSP and party leader Patrick Harvie, said: “A Yes vote would give the Scottish Parliament the ability to decentralise ownership of the land and infrastructure that renewable energy depends on, spreading the economic benefits of this growing industry throughout society.
“By also investing in demand reduction, we could tackle the eye-watering costs that consumers have faced as Westminster governments have dithered over our energy future.”
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Scottish Energy News has published extensive reports on the SNP Scottish Government’s White Paper on Independence on energy-related issues and we have also published a POLICY PLATFORM paper from Murdo Fraser, MSP, Chairman of the Holyrood Energy Committee (all searchable online on our website and also also published on our Twitter page – @ScotEnergyNews.
If other political parties wish to contribute information about their ‘energy and Independence’ policies, please send to:
Jane Ambrose
Editor@ScottishEnergyNews.com
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