By David Scott
A parliamentary committee has urged the Scottish Government to spend up to £170m annually over the next ten years to cut energy demand and fuel poverty across Scotland.
The all-party economy, energy and tourism committee of the Scottish Parliament, in a report published on June 30, also supported the SNP administration’s opposition to a new generation of nuclear power stations. But it conceded there was a need to extend the life of existing nuclear plants to give time to increase electricity generation from alternative sources.
The committee called on the Scottish Government in the next budget round to consider ‘substantially increasing’ resources for an area-based energy efficiency conservation programme.
‘The size of the investment could be in the order of £100m–£170m per year over the next decade to come, with spending targeted on the basis of a geographical mapping of fuel poverty needs,’ the MSPs said.
They also demanded that the government speed up procedures to approve new, large-scale national electricity developments. Committee convener Ian Smith said: ‘The provision of secure, affordable and environmentally friendly energy supplies is fundamental to the wealth and national wellbeing of Scotland.’
Environmental groups claimed Scotland was leading the world, after MSPs approved a climate change bill with ambitious targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 and by at least 80% by 2050.
A parliamentary committee has urged the Scottish Government to spend up to £170m annually over the next ten years to cut energy demand and fuel poverty across Scotland.
The all-party economy, energy and tourism committee of the Scottish Parliament, in a report published on June 30, also supported the SNP administration’s opposition to a new generation of nuclear power stations. But it conceded there was a need to extend the life of existing nuclear plants to give time to increase electricity generation from alternative sources.
The committee called on the Scottish Government in the next budget round to consider ‘substantially increasing’ resources for an area-based energy efficiency conservation programme.
‘The size of the investment could be in the order of £100m–£170m per year over the next decade to come, with spending targeted on the basis of a geographical mapping of fuel poverty needs,’ the MSPs said.
They also demanded that the government speed up procedures to approve new, large-scale national electricity developments. Committee convener Ian Smith said: ‘The provision of secure, affordable and environmentally friendly energy supplies is fundamental to the wealth and national wellbeing of Scotland.’
Environmental groups claimed Scotland was leading the world, after MSPs approved a climate change bill with ambitious targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 and by at least 80% by 2050.
