Welcome for Labour plans for Energy Scotland

Today I have welcomed plans put forward by the Scottish Labour Party to set up Energy Scotland to drive forward Scotland as a world leader in the renewable energy sector.

Bringing jobs to Dundee is my top priority. I am clear that there is scope for jobs coming to Dundee through the renewable energy sector. Better co-ordination of the Scottish Government's resources in this sector will lead to better results. I will work with any interested party to bring renewable energy jobs to our city. I want to see greater use of household renewables and I also think that we should be looking at encouraging community co-operatives and social enterprises in the renewable sector.


Please see below Iain Gray MSP's statement:

GRAY REVEALS ENERGY SCOTLAND - BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITY IN DECADES

60,000 JOBS POTENTIAL - SNP TOO SLOW & LACK STRATEGY


Iain Gray announced today Labour plans to set up Energy Scotland to drive forward Scotland as a world leader in the renewable energy sector with the potential to create over 60,000 new jobs in the next decade .

The Scottish Labour leader will discuss his plans for Energy Scotland during his visit to Pelamis Wave Power Ltd in Leith today. (1)


Iain Gray MSP said: “This is the biggest industrial opportunity we have had in decades. That is why Labour will set up Energy Scotland to take full advantage of it and establish Scotland as a world leader and create 60,000 new jobs over the next decade.(2)

“Energy Scotland will pull together our strategy to maximise energy generation, energy efficiency and energy use. It is all about delivery and we will also ensure Scotland is a major exporter of electricity.

“Energy Scotland will co-ordinate our policy on renewables such as wind and wave power as well as nuclear, electricity, energy efficiency, home insulation and household renewables, the grid infrastructure and coal, oil and gas.

“We need joined-up thinking in these areas so we can control energy demand and reduction. We also have to look ahead to long term investment not just to 2020 but beyond to 2030-50


SNP FAILURE - too slow

“Under the SNP the energy sector has been held back by too many different bits of government, regulation and planning problems. What they have said has not been matched by what they have delivered.

“Instead of driving forward as fast as they should have, the SNP have failed to exploit the opportunity. Too often the sector is held back by fragmented support and a lack of joined-up government.

“They have been far too slow in dealing with planning restrictions regards onshore wind farms. Over 40 per cent of potential power from new wind farms have been rejected by the SNP which is foolhardy and short sighted. We are losing jobs because the SNP government is not as pro-active as it should be.


DELIVERY

“Energy Scotland will be all about delivery and will ensure the sector is more efficient and effective and Scotland is at the forefront of supply chain benefits.

“We will build on the work of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board and will pull together different streams such as research and development to improve energy technology and skills in the workforce. We will promote Scotland internationally and support companies that invest in our energy sector .

“As well as leading companies like Pelamis who are at the forefront of technology, we must have wider ambition for the whole of Scotland which is why household renewables is a potentially huge growth area with community co-operatives, social enterprises and local government.

“We have the expertise in Scotland to do this,

“Scottish Labour has led the way in the Scottish Parliament and demanded 42 per cent carbon reduction targets, the highest in the world, as the SNP government’s had a limited ambition of 34 per cent figure. We delivered a consensus that got them to change their mind.

“This is not just about reducing dependence on imported oil and gas and producing ever more of our electricity from renewables and low carbon sources by 2020, but also reducing fuel poverty, improving our environment and the standard of our social housing."