Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser MSP, has called on the Scottish Government to back Conservative plans to end cash subsidies for new onshore wind farms after figures revealed that the Government’s 100% renewable energy target has been met.
The Scottish Government set a target of meeting 100% of our electricity needs from renewables and official figures have revealed that the number of built onshore wind farms and those consented to comfortably exceeds the Scottish Government’s 14-16GW target.
Murdo believes that under-siege local communities will benefit from plans to end the onshore subsidy bonanza which could stop controversial projects like the Macritch development in Glen Isla.
Angus Council has already submitted an official objection to the Scottish Government on the Macritch project with Perth and Kinross Council expecting to do likewise. Yet despite this, Holyrood Ministers could still railroad the project through against the wishes of the local community.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Murdo Fraser said:
“Under-siege residents throughout Perth and Kinross will welcome our plans to end onshore wind subsidies. Generous subsidies have lit the touch paper for speculative developers and communities simply do not have the energy or resources to fight application after application.
“There is a place for onshore wind farms but the fact that this target has been met should result in bill-payer levies being directed to other areas.
“The Scottish Government has rolled out the red carpet for windfarms for too long. We can see the visual damage that has caused, and it makes no financial sense for so much money to be ploughed into a form of energy that is unreliable and intermittent.
“The Conservatives in Westminster have pledged to end subsidies for windfarms, and it’s time for the Scottish Government to back this approach.
“Communities who’ve had their landscapes blighted by turbines will no doubt agree.”