Renewables support needed to fight climate change, warns SNP

The SNP has joined calls from environmental campaigners and industry groups for the UK Government to re-consider its approach to onshore wind subsidies.

SNP MP Callum McCaig will today lodge an Early Day Motion calling on the UK Government to meet with its counterparts in Holyrood to discuss support for the industry, as new figures show wind energy output for May 2015 rose by 83 per cent against the same period last year.

McCraig’s move follows comments from Scottish Government Energy Minister Fergus Ewing, warning his UK counterpart Amber Rudd against cutting subsidies.

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Ewing said: “As well as being UK Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd is also UK Climate Change Secretary. It would be very regrettable if her first action in her new role was to slash support for clean green energy from onshore wind.

“As well as being entirely the wrong decision from an energy security point of view, it would also undermine the UK’s credibility in these vital UN Climate Talks – where Ms Rudd and her colleagues will be representing the UK.

“The Scottish Government remains ambitious for the renewable energy industry and the vital contribution it makes towards tackling climate change. Onshore wind is the cheapest way of producing renewable electricity in the UK and it is important we continue to support this vital industry.”

McCaig said: “It’s clear that energy budgets are at severe risk of being spent on new nuclear at the expense of renewable energy – which will hit both jobs in the renewable sector and hit consumers in the pocket.  It’s time for the UK Government to have a serious re-think.”

Meanwhile WWF Scotland director Lang Banks warned that Tory policy put the future of clean energy technology at risk.

He said: “Cutting support now for the lowest cost renewable technology would be a backwards step that will either see consumer bills rise or our climate targets missed.

“Opinion polls consistently show onshore wind to be one of the most popular forms of electricity, which helps sustain thousands of jobs while helping to cut carbon emissions. We encourage the Scottish Government to continue to support the development of onshore wind in Scotland and press UK Ministers to think again on its plans to cut support.”