Scottish Labour's Lewis Macdonald is calling on the Scottish Government to back onshore and offshore wind power as the key to meeting Scotland's renewable energy targets. His call comes on the day that the Holyrood's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee publishes the report of its inquiry on 'Determining and Delivering Scotland's Energy Future'. The report confims that the Scottish Government has failed to back up its rhetoric on green energy by consenting to new wind power projects.

Scottish Labour's Energy Spokesman Lewis Macdonald said:

"Scotland's opportunity lies in harnessing our wind power potential over the next few years, and our wave and tidal power potential after that. All parties say they support green energy as a key part of Scotland's energy future, but actions speak louder than words. Alex Salmond says a lot about green energy, and never misses a photo opportunity standing beside a renewable energy project approved by the Labour-led Executive before 2007. What he and his ministers have failed to do is match their words with actions by consenting to wind power projects or by delivering an early decision on vital grid upgrades like the Beauly-Denny line.

"Today's report confirms, from Scottish Government figures, that SNP Ministers have rejected 40 per cent of all potential new renewable energy capacity offered by projects they have determined, compared with a rejection rate of less than 5 per cent under the previous Labour-led administration. The SNP have yet to approve a single wind power project other than outstanding projects or extensions to windfarms which were approved by the previous administration.

"That is why the Economy Committee report calls on Ministers and Councils to be far more positive in relation to the planning and consents system, and for a positive decision within the next few months on the Beauly-Denny line. It is not enough for ministers to say they favour renewable energy; they have to begin to make the tough but necessary decisions to make it happen."

30/06/2009