Fergus Ewing, Scottish Energy Minister, has called on the Tory UK government to ‘change course’ over its renewable policies have result in the UK crashing out of the World Top 10 list of most investor-attractive nations for investment in renewables.

As revealed yesterday in Scottish Energy News, the EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index showed that the UK has slumped four places in the rankings – from 8th in June 2015 index to 13th in the latest report. 

Ewing said: “The Scottish Government has exceeded its target for 50 per cent of Scottish electricity consumption to come from renewables by 2015 and last month wind turbines generated enough to supply, on average, the electrical needs of 79% of Scottish households. 

“This is a stark warning to the Tory government – they must change course on renewable energy policy or they run the very real risk of jeopardising UK energy security. 

“In contrast, the Scottish Government is showing global leadership on the issue – with the confirmation in March that we have powered through our target of generating half of Scottish electricity consumption from renewables. 

“But if we are to meet our ambitious renewables and climate change targets we must go further – that’s why we will bring forward a new long term Scottish energy strategy to make electricity cleaner, affordable and more secure for consumers. 

“The UK Government’s wrong-headed ideological attack on renewable energy threatens to undermine the good work being done in Scotland to grow renewable generation – they must change course and give the renewables industry the support it requires to flourish.”

If you want to contribute to the debate on SCOTLAND’S RENEWABLE FUTURE – along with Holyrood MPs from all parties – then come along and make your voice heard on Thursday, 26 May 2016 at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation.

* SCOTLAND’S RENEWABLE FUTURE conference, 26 May 2016.

For more information:  http://www.scotlandsrenewablefuture.co.uk/