National Energy Company vital to green recovery
The Scottish Government must press on with creating a National Energy Company as a key part of establishing a green recovery, the Scottish Greens have said.
Analysis by the Trades Union Congress published this week has revealed the UK is lagging behind other G7 countries when it comes to investing in a green recovery and job creation.
Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater used FMQs to press the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to push for green investment from the UK at this afternoon’s four-nation summit.
She also asked the Scottish Government to do more with devolved powers, including moving ahead with the creation of a National Energy Company so it can provide demand for Scottish Renewable energy.
Lorna Slater MSP said: “I hope the First Minister use meetings with the UK Government to demand the investment we need, working in partnership with other devolved countries, just as the Scottish Government did to secure an extension to furlough last year. But there is still more we can do here in Scotland, with the powers we have, to secure a green recovery.
“Look at industry I come from; Scotland could be a world leader in marine renewable energy but the industry was undermined by the Tory Government when they scrapped essential tariff support in 2015. Since then, no new tidal energy projects have come forward.
“The Scottish Government have long committed to a public energy company which could provide tidal energy with the demand it needs, but it needs to get going.
“Tidal energy technology was developed in Scotland. We are the world experts in it, but if we don’t act now we will lose this industry to other countries.”