Renewable energy firms in Highlands and islands are divided over the prospective benefits of Scotland voting for Independence on September 18.
Two separate questions were put to some 200 delegates attending the Scottish Highlands Renewables Energy Conference in Inverness last week – including representatives from major renewables companies and organisations, community groups, crofters, farmers, landowners and regulatory bodies.
In answer to the referendum, question – ‘Should Scotland be an independent country? – the vote was 38.2% Yes and 61.8% No.
But on a second question – ‘Would an independent Scotland be beneficial for the renewable energy sector? – the result changed, with 53.7% Yes and 46.3% No.
The main conference, chaired by Jeremy Sainsbury OBE, Director at Natural Power, also heard from Jonathan Henson, Head of Scottish Rural Business at Savills, and Ian Ross, recently-appointed chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage.
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