It is “essential” for the UK to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources, the Scottish Greens have said.
As the General Election campaign enters its final week, the party have called for Scotland and the wider UK to aim to power heating, transport and electricity from green sources.
Ahead of a visit to an East Lothian wind farm, the party’s co-leader Lorna Slater touted her plans for a £28 billion annual investment to bring about a Green New Deal.
![Lorna Slater speaking at the Scottish Greens manifesto launch in 2024](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/b7ea43d426f30c8065e24c7e46183f83Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE5NTA0Njgw/2.76584835.jpg?w=640)
“100% of our energy coming from renewables is essential for our planet, and it could also save the public billions compared to relying on false solutions like carbon capture and storage,” she said.
“It would be a huge opportunity for our climate, but also for our economy.
“Scotland has an abundance of renewable resources and we need to put them at the heart of our energy plans.
“That is why we are proposing a Green New Deal that would see £28 billion of public investment every year, funded by taxes on polluters and the top 1% of wealthiest households.
“Investment is critical if we are to be at the leading edge of the global renewables revolution and deliver a robust, secure and cheap energy system for all.
“In recent years we have seen rapid technological development. Heat pumps now offer an extremely efficient alternative to gas boilers, energy storage solutions are coming online, and electric cars are rapidly pushing out the old-fashioned internal combustion engine.
“The costs of green technologies are plummeting too. The price of solar panels has come down by 90% over the last decade, threatening to make fossil fuel alternatives obsolete.
“It’s inexplicable that instead of embracing green solutions, Labour and Tories are doubling down on nuclear power, which is costly, dangerous and leaves a long and toxic legacy.”
Scottish Tory candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie said: “The Greens’ dogmatic refusal to back new nuclear developments in Scotland continues to defy common sense.
“Their blinkered views mean Scotland’s economic and energy needs will be harmed in the years ahead.
“Voters across Scotland recognise nuclear should be part of our energy mix as we transition to net zero, rather than the Greens – and the SNP – dismissing it for purely ideological reasons.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel