Press Releases
14-07-2009 : REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SCOTLAND'S TRUE RENEWABLES POTENTIAL SAYS McARTHUR
Commenting on the publication of The Power of Scotland Renewed, commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland, the World Development Movement, WWF Scotland and RSPB Scotland, which claims that Scotland could be 100% renewable in only 20 years, Orkney MSP and Liberal Democrat Energy spokesman, Liam McArthur, said:
"This report is yet further evidence of the true potential Scotland has to be the renewables powerhouse of Europe. Liberal Democrats were the first party to call for 100 per cent of Scotland's electricity to come from renewables.
"If this ambitious target is to be realised, it will require marine renewables to play a full part. For this to happen, the SNP Government must accept that Scotland's wave and tidal sector requires a dedicated R&D fund. Ministers simply wrapping themselves in the Saltire Prize, which will pay out nothing until 2015, is not good enough.
"More attention also needs to be given to the supply chain, which is critical to Scotland achieving our renewables ambitions. This is where many of the green collar jobs will be created, and Ministers must do more to ensure that these jobs are created and rooted in Scotland."