SNP accuse Tory MSPs of ‘double-standards’ over private wind farm interests

The SNP have demanded that the Tories explain their ‘hypocrisy over windfarms’ after it emerged that two of their MSPs profit from wind energy – despite the party having previously opposed the development of such projects.
 
Details in the Scottish Parliament’s Register of Interests reveal that Tory MSPs Peter Chapman and John Scott profit from wind energy.

The Register of Interests for John Scott (MSP, Ayr) states: “From 6 March 2009 part of the Farm’s income comes from a contract with CRE Energy Ltd to provide access over the farm for the purpose of building and maintaining a windfarm,” and is available here: http://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/99137.aspx

In his Register of Interests, Peter Chapman (MSP, North East Scotland) states that he owns “ordinary shares in Redbogs Renewables Ltd, a wind energy company, with a value of £750,000 which represents 15% of the issued share capital,” and is available here:  http://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/99161.aspx

The Tories were proven wrong on the impact of wind energy on tourism last week – a key part of their anti-renewables agenda – after an independent report showed that wind farms have no negative impact on tourism.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald – a member of the Holyrood Economy & Jobs Committee, said: “These findings show just how shameless and self-interested the Tories are. Despite arguing against wind farms, some of their MSPs are more than happy to turn a profit from them.
 
“The catastrophic policies of the Tory Government at Westminster only emphasise how utterly misguided the party’s renewable energy policy is.

“Not only have they been happy to make money from their investments in wind turbines whilst criticising them publicly, it also emerged this week that their reasoning is completely false – with a report showing that wind turbines had, if anything, a positive effect on tourism across Scotland.”