Hastily cutting funding for onshore windfarms could impact badly on the Scottish economy.
That is according to one Nationalist MSP who is concerned at Westminster plans to scrap subsidies for green energy. The Scottish Tories say Holyrood has already exceeded its target to generate 100% of its energy needs from renewables so should back cuts.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Murdo Fraser said:
"Now that the SNP has effectively surpassed this ridiculous target it set itself, it’s time to rein in yet more onshore wind developments. Rural Scotland has had enough, and so have businesses and consumers.
"The Scottish Government has rolled out the red carpet for windfarms for too long. We can see the visual damage that has caused, and it makes no financial sense for so much money to be ploughed into a form of energy that is unreliable and intermittent."
Denial
But the SNP deny that targets have been reached. They are calling on the UK Government to commit to future onshore wind subsidies and end the uncertainty they are causing the industry.
Highlands and Islands MSP Mike Mackenzie called the proposed subsidy cuts "a tragedy looming". He said:
"This report is a timely reminder of the damage uncertainty caused by the UK Government’s mixed messages can have on Scotland’s renewables industry – and highlights the need for real action to support this important part of our economy. Scotland has incredible opportunities to be a world leader in a range of renewable technologies which provide clean, sustainable power which we simply must capitalise on.
"The UK Government needs to immediately re-consider its wrong-headed priorities and end their damaging period of uncertainty– and confirm the future of onshore wind support which is so important to Scotland’s renewables industry."
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