Renewable routemap: right direction, still a long way to go

Commenting on the Scottish Government’s 2020 renewable energy routemap published today (30 June), Friends of the Earth Scotland Policy and Parliamentary Officer Francis Stuart said:

“Renewables have a central role to play in Scotland’s future and this routemap could be a step forward on the way towards a sustainable energy system. The 100% renewable electricity target for 2020 is exactly the type of target we should be aiming for.

“Yet we’ll only reduce our greenhouse gases and tackle climate change if at the same time as committing to these renewable targets, we improve energy efficiency, reduce overall demand and begin phasing out our dirty, old coal power stations and creaking nuclear power plants. Our Power of Scotland Secured report shows it can be done, and the government still has a long way to go before achieving this.”

“A greater focus on community ownership and small scale renewables is also welcome. We look forward to seeing the green equity fund for small scale renewables and hope this will have substantial financial backing.

“The commitment to review support for large scale, inefficient, electricity-only biomass power stations is also warmly welcome. Shipping in millions of tonnes of wood from abroad has serious environmental impacts and the developer behind the Leith, Dundee, Grangemouth and Rosyth biomass proposals should sit up, take notice and withdraw their applications.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact: Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland
t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

Blueprint for renewables revolution – Scottish Government press release www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/06/30094005

Power of Scotland Secured – report on how Scotland could phase out all fossil fuel and nuclear power by 2030, maintain a secure electricity supply and generate significant revenue from renewable exports www.foe-scotland.org.uk/power-secured

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, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent. www.foe-scotland.org.uk