HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS MSP CALLS FOR ACTION ON ENERGY GRID CHARGE INEQUALITY

“I don’t hold out much hope of real positive actions by this UK Government.  If their refusal to care about the north continues, then it makes it ever clearer that independence for Scotland is necessary to tackle energy inequality.”

SNP MSP Emma Roddick today questioned the Scottish Government on energy grid charges, which she says are unfair to Scotland and her region of the Highlands and Islands.

The line of questioning by the Highlands and Islands MSP was prompted by Scottish Renewables’ assessment that Transmission Network Use of System charges make projects in Scotland 20% more expensive than the same project would cost in the south of England.

She said:

“It is no secret that UK energy policy is unfair on Scotland, unfair on the Highlands and Islands, and penalises those who are trying to provide green energy projects. 

“Scotland is a net exporter of energy, exporting eighteen times the energy to England than we receive back.  Yet, developers and individuals are paying through the nose for the privilege of supplying the UK with green energy.  That is unequivocally wrong.

“The UK Government has to act – it is that simple.  If they will not give Scotland the powers we need to make decisions over energy policy ourselves, then the Tories in Westminster owe it to us, and to the Highlands and Islands in particular, to take action to address extreme fuel poverty and barriers to development.

“I don’t hold out much hope of real positive actions by this UK Government.  If their refusal to care about the north continues, then it makes it ever clearer that independence for Scotland is necessary to tackle energy inequality.”