The management team at GreenPower were delighted to welcome Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh OBE, MP for Ochil & South Perthshire, and Steven Paterson, MP for Stirling, to the company’s offices in Alloa last week. Our two local MPs were keen to find out first-hand how UK Government’s recent proposals to remove support for renewable energy are impacting on the business.
UK Government’s recent proposals to remove support for renewables has created huge uncertainty in the industry and amongst communities who are developing renewable projects, particularly in terms of attracting investment. The proposed changes fly in the face of all logic given the good progress which is being made to reduce the costs of renewables and the public support the renewables have. Renewable energy is a UK – and even more so Scottish – success story and should be celebrated but instead it is under attack.
Commenting on the UK Government proposals, GreenPower Director, Phil Parkin said:
“It is right that where more renewable energy capacity drives down the costs of new installations, Government subsidy support is scaled back. However, we need a sustainable, progressive and less drastic solution that allows business and communities to continue to have confidence to invest. The scale and speed of cuts the UK Government is proposing will make a large number of future renewable energy projects unviable and will lead to job losses across Scotland. Tasmina and Steven shared our concerns and have offered to make representations in Parliament. We are grateful for their support”.
Steven Patterson MP added:
“Small businesses, such as GreenPower, who are investing in our green energy sector, are the backbone of our future energy industry. We need to keep our fingers firmly on the pulse of these businesses during this crucial time of expansion and development. The UK Conservative Government’s plans to hack away at subsidy support during this time is irresponsible and these businesses are already beginning to see the detrimental effect it is having. This is a time when we need to be doing all we can to protect jobs, not letting them slip. Both myself and my SNP colleagues in Westminster will do all we can in opposing these irrational changes to green energy support.”
Tasmina Ahmed-Shiekh MP also showed her support by stating:
“I was grateful for this opportunity to hear first hand how the UK Government’s regressive energy policies are harming local business. I’ll continue to use every opportunity I have in Parliament to hold the Tories to account on this important local issue.”
