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Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing is set to meet with 130 businesses impacted by the Conservative government’s decision to scrap subsidies for onshore wind by ending the Renewables Obligation regime a year earlier than anticipated.
The meeting will take place later today in Glasgow and is a chance for the renewables sector to discuss any concerns, as well as the specific impacts of this decision.
Ewing spoke out personally against the decision: “We fundamentally disagree with the UK Government’s decision to prematurely end support under the Renewables Obligation for the onshore wind sector and today’s meeting is an opportunity to hear about the impact this will have.”
He added that the UK government should have held a similar meeting prior to taking the decision that will affect so many people.
The overall response from Scottish industry has been equally negative; it even stated that the decision “could cost £3 billion investment in Scotland”.
Further criticism came from the Scottish Civil Engineering Contractors Association which claimed that this event “puts as many as 3,000 full-time jobs at risk”.
Ewing highlighted the importance of the upcoming meeting, emphasising that he is “keen to listen to…concerns” of people directly impacted such as companies, businesses and communities.
Scottish Renewables chairman Patricia Hawthorn was also positive about the meeting: “We welcome the opportunity for our onshore wind industry members to engage with the Scottish Government in seeking constructive solutions to this very serious issue”.
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