Standard content for Members only
To continue reading this article, please login to your Utility Week account, Start 14 day trial or Become a member.
If your organisation already has a corporate membership and you haven’t activated it simply follow the register link below. Check here.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has lodged a formal call for the UK government to rethink its position on cutting support for onshore wind, saying Westminster must consult with Scotland on a move which could damage the country's renewable industry.
The SNP’s Westminster representative for energy, Callum McCaig, brought forward an early day motion to put greater pressure on the UK government to honour its commitment to consult with the Scottish on planned cuts to onshore wind subsidies through the Renewables Obligation (RO) regime.
The Scottish government is firmly pro-renewables, with a hardline stance against new nuclear development. The country has a 2020 target to meet 100 per cent of its demand from renewable energy sources, of which much will come from onshore wind.
“It’s clear that energy budgets are at severe risk of being spent on new nuclear at the expense of renewable energy – which will hit both jobs in the renewable sector and hit consumers in the pocket,” McCaig said.
“The UK government needs to immediately re-consider its wrong-headed priorities and deliver an energy policy fit for the 21st Century – ensuring its obsession with nuclear energy is not allowed to put Scotland’s renewable industry at a disadvantage,” he added.
Rudd is expected to clarify her plans to reform the RO to rule out new onshore wind farms this week, with detail expected on whether this will hit the 7GW of onshore wind capacity which is planned but not yet approved.
Please login or Register to leave a comment.