Greens push for a firm decision on renewable investment

For immediate release 20 May 2010

The Green MSPs welcomed today's news that the £185 million raised in Scotland through the Fossil Fuel Levy could be released to Scottish Ministers at long last (see p.28 of the new coalition's programme), and urged the Scottish and UK governments to work positively together to ensure this money is both released and earmarked for the renewable energy sector. This announcement comes just one day after a report from the Offshore Valuation Group which suggests that Scotland can meet its energy needs seven times over from renewables alone. (2)

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

"Discussions about releasing these funds have been a long time coming, and I hope the new coalition at Westminster will indeed hand this money over to Scottish Ministers. This part of the Fossil Fuel Levy was raised in Scotland, paid by producers of dirty energy, and it should be spent in Scotland to boost investment in our renewable sector, not subtracted from the block grant as Labour had planned to do.

"A spokesman for our First Minister calls it a step in the right direction; so far I would call it more of a glance in the right direction. What Scotland needs is early action and clear decisions to deliver this country's extraordinary renewable potential, which we now know can meet our own needs seven times over, enough to create a substantial export industry.

"Scotland has great potential to be a global pioneer in renewable energy, a potential which must be properly exploited if we are ever going to meet our climate targets and if we are to deliver the green jobs all parties are talking about. Scottish and UK Ministers must now work together to ensure this funding is used properly."