GOVERNMENT DRAGGING FEET ON OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY

SNP Energy spokesman, Mike Weir MP has today (Monday) stated that the Government is risking investment in large-scale offshore renewable energy projects by delaying a decision on the offshore charging regime.

The SNP MP received a letter from the Energy Minister making it clear that the wind-power project in the Moray Firth and tidal-stream schemes in the Pentland Firth would not be included in the regime covering the Scottish islands.

Mr Weir said:

"It is urgent that the offshore situation is addressed. Failure to get an adequate regime for offshore transmission will seriously damage the chance of developing Scotland's renewable generation industry.

"If we have a repeat of the fiasco of the discriminatory transmission charges imposed by the industry regulator Ofgem on generation in mainland Scotland it would be an utter disaster for hopes of developing a major renewables industry in the north and north-east.

"The Government is dragging its feet on Scotland's huge renewable potential whilst rushing headlong into promoting nuclear."