LONDON, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- John Quigley, Regional Secretary for Unite the union will today tell the STUC conference that:
"The SNP's energy policy is a shambles. Alex Salmond has already made clear his opposition to new nuclear power stations but now they have taken the decision to ditch Britain's biggest wind farm project."
The Scottish Government promotes the virtues of renewable energy as a key component in ending Scotland's reliance on energy imports and fulfilling Co2 emissions targets. However, the SNP have taken the decision to ditch Britain's biggest wind farm project on the Isle of Lewis.
Finance Minister, John Swinney recently told an STUC climate change conference that it could take a decade before renewables become fully operational and commercially viable.
John Quigley will tell the conference that: "We can't wait ten years. A balanced energy strategy incorporating nuclear, clean coal, oil, gas and renewable sources is absolutely vital to ensuring security of supply and a low carbon economy.
While the SNP wait years and years to realise a flawed energy policy, Scotland will become increasingly dependent on imported oil and gas rather than using home-grown Scottish talent to become more self-reliant."
The union is also calling for the government to support at both devolved and reserved levels the development of workers in the energy sector.
John Quigley added, "Investing in skills, training and the retention of people in the energy sector is vital if we are to realise the potential of green manufacturing with potentially 35,000 jobs being created in the UK renewable sector. However the SNP are paying scant attention to creating valuable and skilled Scottish jobs."
The Scottish Government's recently published 'Skills for Scotland: A lifelong Skills Strategy' only mentioned the necessity of developing skilled energy workers once.
The union is calling on the STUC to support its demand for Investment in skilled labour to deliver the construction, operation and maintenance of all low carbon energy sources.
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo +44(0)7768-931-315
