Clean energy can lower bills
The Scottish Greens manifesto will include a commitment to deliver a £600 million investment programme in onshore and offshore wind, wave and solar energy to cut bills and protect our environment.
This will be part funded by redeploying the millions of pounds of public funding that’s been pledged to support unproven carbon capture and storage technologies.
The plan will be launched by Green co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer at South Lanarkshire College, where they will meet with students and staff who train in Green skills.
With fossil fuel prices soaring and fuel poverty increasing, the Greens have called for Westminster to de-link cheaper electricity prices from extortionate international gas prices.
Gillian Mackay said:
“Scotland has a huge renewables potential but we are not yet meeting it.
“Green energy is the cleanest and cheapest energy available, but the other parties are caught in a loop of arguing for more fossil fuels.
“With the right support we can lower bills, cut carbon emissions and create thousands of good well paid jobs that will last for years to come and put us at the forefront of a vital and growing industry.
“The price spikes we have seen in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s illegal and immoral invasion of Iran will impact almost every household and business in Scotland.
“We can't keep burning fossil fuels at such a terrible cost to people and planet.
“We need a green transition that works for the communities where oil and gas jobs are, but that can't happen without the support of both the Scottish and UK governments.
“We have seen what happened at Grangemouth and Mossmorran when the jobs left but our Governments failed to plan for it and the communities were made to pay the price.
“It’s time for us to seize the huge opportunity we have on our doorsteps and support the green jobs of the future. Scotland has the talent, resources and ambition to lead, now all we need is a government who will give it their full backing.”
Gillian added:
“Keeping people locked into gas is wrecking our planet and punishing households with outrageous costs. Meanwhile fossil fuel giants are raking in massive profits and laughing their way to the bank.
“By rapidly expanding clean energy and reducing our reliance on oil and gas we can start to bring down bills and put money back in people’s pockets.
“A vote for the Scottish Greens on 7th May is a vote to cut bills, tackle fuel poverty and finally end our dependence on volatile fossil fuels.”
