Energy Strategy sets out renewable energy vision

Reacting to the launch of Scotland’s first comprehensive Energy Strategy, Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“This Energy Strategy is very welcome, with a strong ambition of transforming electricity, heating and transport. With 50% of all energy to come from renewables by 2030 and 100% of our electricity well before then this plan sets us firmly on course to becoming one of the leading low-carbon nations in the world. We will need to do even more if we are to make our fair contribution to halting climate change.

“Scotland is blessed with abundant clean energy resources and we need to harness the huge energies in the wind, waves and sun. We are already doing very well on electricity but we must build on this and also transform energy use in transport and heating, getting away from climate-wrecking fossil fuels as soon as we can.

“The Strategy shows that we have no need to build new nuclear reactors or rely on shale gas extracted at great cost to communities. The Strategy envisages a strong expansion in all forms of renewables and reinforces the drive to maximise community ownership in renewable energy schemes.

“We are pleased that it recognises the potential of offshore wind, which could meet all of Scotland’s electricity needs several times over on its own but has been stuck in the doldrums recently. If properly planned, a major expansion of marine renewables would be the ideal way to create a just transition for workers currently facing a bleak future in the oil industry.”

“The transformation of our energy system is an important opportunity to create a more equal and socially just Scotland. We urge the Scottish Government to work closely with workers and communities to ensure that the shift away from fossil fuel dependency is fair to everyone involved.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Energy Strategy was launched in Parliament by Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse this afternoon, the document is http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00513324.pdf

The ‘Energy of Scotland’ report was published last year and mapped out the path to 50% renewable energy for electricity, heating and transport by 2030. It is a joint report commissioned by FoE Scotland, RSPB Scotland and WWF Scotland. http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/ricardo_energy_report_web.pdf

The Government confirmed 2016 manifesto commitments to deliver 1 GW of community and locally-owned energy by 2020, and 2 GW by 2030; and at least half of newly consented renewable energy projects will have an element of shared ownership by 2020. Currently around 600MW of energy comes from community and locally-owned sources. www.communitypower.scot

Friends of the Earth Scotland and leading Trade Unions announced plans to work together on industrial policies which can create a Just Transition to a low-carbon economy (December 2016) http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/call-for-just-transition

Friends of the Earth Scotland is:
* Scotland's leading environmental campaigning organisation
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 75 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk