FRACKING: APPLICATIONS DENOUNCED BY GREENS
Kirsten Robb, Scottish Green MSP candidate for Central Scotland in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, has responded to the discovery that nine companies applied for fracking licenses in central Scotland.
Calling for a focus on developing jobs in renewables and sustainable industries, Kirsten Robb said:
“Thanks to The Ferret for bringing this info to light, despite the UK government’s best attempts to withhold it. It shows that as-yet-unnamed companies are preparing to frack the Central belt of Scotland, affecting up to one million people, despite the moratorium.
“Scottish Greens are consistently opposed to fracking. With more Green MSPs in the Scottish Parliament, we will stand up for our communities and keep the pressure on. Fracking is a distraction from a cleaner, jobs rich energy future that benefits everyone, rather than a few multinationals.'
According to the news broken by online media outlet, The Ferret, ''Information released by the UK government reveals that nine companies have applied for licences to exploit shale gas beneath 1,900 square kilometres of land. Shale reserves are all centred around Glasgow and Edinburgh across Lanarkshire, Lothian and Fife.”
Following pressure from Scottish Greens the UK Government agreed not to award fracking licenses in Scotland as this power is due to be devolved, a concession won by the Greens during the Smith Commission negotiations.