In a Scottish Government debate on fuel poverty Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has slammed the role of SNP wind farm subsidies in aggravating fuel poverty.
Generous grants awarded to wind farm developers have pushed electricity costs through the roof leaving Scotland with some of the highest energy bills in Europe.
Energy bills are rising faster than inflation and wages are struggling to keep up which has resulted in nearly 30% of Scottish residents being left in fuel poverty. Energy Action Scotland claim the figure could be as high as 40%.
Speaking in the Chamber Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Every electricity bill has a rapidly increasing levy for paying the subsidies for wind turbines. Every time we hear someone evangelising on behalf of the wind power industry let us remember it is built on increasing fuel poverty, and every time we hear wind farm developers talking about the sums they pay out in community benefit let us remember that every penny of that community benefit is being robbed from the public, many of whom can barely afford to heat their homes.
“The Committee on Climate Change looked at the impact on bills in the longer term on different technologies. According to the recent report, electricity costs could go up 68% by 2050 if relying on gas but 210% if relying on renewables.”
Commenting outside the Chamber Murdo said:
“The Scottish Government must realise that the decisions they make on wind energy effects everyone in Scotland, from the rural resident whose community is blighted by these structures to the urban family who witness a dramatic increase in their heating and lighting bills.
“There must be a reassessment of energy policy in light of the sheer number of Scots struggling to pay bills. As well as the Scottish Government’s commitment to green energy we must see a commitment to cheaper energy, until that is realised businesses and families will continue to suffer.”