Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has spoken in Parliament, highlighting Scotland’s wealth of energy resources in wind, water and wave and has called for the Scottish Government to ensure that the people of Scotland can benefit from this.
The Statement to Parliament delivered by The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson announced the publication of the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan and it detailed a road map to secure Scotland’s fastest possible fair and just transition away from fossil fuels.
Key policy proposals of the Strategy which is now subject to a consultation included substantially increasing the current level of 13.4 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity generation capacity, a presumption against new oil and gas exploration and accelerated decarbonisation of domestic industry, transport and heat in buildings.
Following the statement, Fiona commented,
“This new Energy Strategy sets out how Scotland can work with other countries across the globe to ensure a renewables revolution. We have a clear world advantage in access to natural resources and the renewable energy it can generate and the people of Scotland must be able to benefit from access to cleaner, greener, cheaper energy.
“I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary highlighted that Scotland must not just be a production source of green energy for exploitation and transmission elsewhere as export by internationally owned companies for their own profit, but must also enable Scotland to develop the supply chains necessary and benefit from the related economic activity, manufacturing and jobs. Developing expertise in development, manufacturing, innovation and supply chains can also be a source of knowledge export and Scotland can lead the world and help other countries in their decarbonisation journey.
“Without Independence, Scotland does not hold all the powers necessary to address the uncertainty in our energy sector, but this Strategy sets out how to achieve an energy transition that ensures we have sufficient, secure and affordable energy to meet our needs, support Scotland’s economic growth and capitalise on future sustainable export opportunities.”
ENDS