Parties Unite to Show Support for Renewables and a Green Recovery

Leading MSPs today held aloft onshore wind turbines outside Parliament

Politicians from all Scotland’s main parties today (27th October) gathered outside Holyrood to demonstrate their support for renewable energy as a key part of a green recovery and essential to help tackle the climate emergency – by holding aloft a model onshore wind turbine. The statement of support helps to kick off the Scottish Renewable Energy Festival which runs for the next two weeks, up to 6th November. (1)

Scottish independent renewable energy company GreenPower has teamed up with Siemens Gamesa to provide a way for MSPs to show their support for renewables and a green recovery throughout the festival. All MSPs have been sent a mini onshore wind turbine and a poster (2) to show in their background during video conferences. The Festival is organised by Scottish Renewables, and activities to showcase and promote renewables are being delivered through its membership.

Rob Forrest GreenPower CEO said:

“In normal times we might be arranging visits to wind farms or hydro plants to showcase the latest technology, but this year for understandable reasons we have had to find alternative ways for Ministers and MSPs to demonstrate support for renewables and for onshore wind energy in particular.

“It is heartening to see representatives from all Scotland’s political parties step up, joining the 79% of people who are positive about onshore wind. Renewable energy is a ‘triple win’ for Scotland – it cuts carbon emissions, creates economic development, particularly in rural areas, and represents a sustainable way to build out of the Covid-19 crisis.”

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, said:

“Scotland is striving to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and renewable energy, and wind energy in particular, are playing a vital role in ensuring that, by 2019, some 90% of all the electricity Scotland uses could be provided from renewable electricity supplies.

“However, to achieve Scotland’s legally binding climate targets we will need to also decarbonise our transport and heat sectors; this will require Scotland and the UK at least doubling the amount of renewable energy we generate across all technologies, including onshore wind. Therefore, I was pleased to join others from across Scotland’s Parliament in showing our strong support for the industry and the very positive benefits of further investment in onshore wind to help power our green economic recovery.”

Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, Miles Briggs, said:

“Investment in green energy is a central part to Scotland’s economic recovery from Covid-19. Scotland has huge potential to harness green energy and lead the way internationally to becoming a carbon neutral country.

“GreenPower have an important role to play in Scotland’s continued transition to green energy which is especially important now for economic recovery and protecting our environment.”

Sarah Boyack MSP, Labour Spokesperson on Local Government, said:

“We urgently need a Green New Deal to create the jobs and industries that will deliver a climate friendly economy in Scotland, to address fuel poverty and to reduce our climate emissions. That means a transformation in how we heat and power our buildings and policy that drives investment in low carbon renewable technologies.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said:

“The need for the shift to renewable energy is obvious and urgent, but that can only be done with significant public investment and a commitment to protect the supply line and ensure thousands of secure and well-paid jobs. Scotland has huge renewables potential to play a major role in supply across Europe, but this will require a matching level of ambition from governments.”

Willie Rennie MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader said:

“The pandemic demands that we need to rebuild our economy for jobs and wellbeing. Future generations demand we rebuild in a fair and sustainable way. Politicians today bear a heavy responsibility to get that right.”

Rob Forrest added:

“Renewable energy, and in particular onshore wind energy, is at the heart of decarbonising our whole economy and responding to the climate emergency. Clean transport and heating for our homes and businesses means a lot more green electricity – which is why the UK Climate Change Committee has recommended a trebling of onshore wind capacity. We will need the full suite of renewable technologies, energy efficiency and storage, plus the will and the policy environment to make it happen. We know that politicians also expect responsible development that respects the environment and maximises benefits to people and local businesses, and we commit to working with them to help achieve that.”

Free-to-use pictures of today’s photocall available from Fraser Bremner: fjbremner@yahoo.co.uk

Contact: James Mackenzie: james.mackenzie@gmail.com / 07921 333 617

Notes

  1. https://www.scottishrenewables.com/events/120-scottish-renewable-energy-festival-2020
  2. https://greenpowerinternational.com/show-your-support-for-onshore-renewables-during-the-scottish-renewable-energy-festival/