ENERGY BILL SCARE IS HOT AIR: JOHNSTONE
Green Yes, the Scottish Green Party's campaign for a Yes vote in the independence referendum, is dismissing the latest scare by Labour on energy.
Shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran claims power bills will rise in an independent Scotland due to renewables.
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood's economy and energy committee, said:
"Labour's claim flies in the face of the evidence, and demonstrates a real lack of ambition for Scotland's clean energy potential. We know that thanks to the UK Government's deal on new nuclear in England - supported by Labour - we face being saddled with massive costs over the coming decades; that's a cost an independent Scotland wouldn't have to shoulder.
"Evidence presented to my committee in parliament showed that UK government policy decisions on energy mean Scottish consumers could face lower electricity prices under independence. All Labour are doing is reminding us that they support nuclear, with its eye-watering costs and toxic legacy.
"They have also glossed over the fact that Scotland is well on the way to becoming a net exporter of renewable power and the need for subsidy is falling fast.
“It is clear to me if we want to get energy bills down we must invest in all forms of renewables - commercial, publicly-owned and locally-owned - and invest in energy efficiency. In turn that will continue to create good jobs and a bright future for young people looking for work.
"There's no offer to devolve energy policy to Scotland so saying No in September will simply lock us in to the wrong set of priorities.”