REID REPORT ON ENERGY OWNERSHIP LIGHTS WAY AHEAD
Scottish Greens are welcoming an expert report on ownership of Scotland's energy resources as lighting the way ahead for both sides in the independence debate.
The Common Weal paper for the Jimmy Reid Foundation, launched today (6 Oct) at the Scottish Green Party conference in Inverness, outlines how public and community ownership of renewables could secure supplies and reduce costs.
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood's economy and energy committee, said:
"With this expert report the Jimmy Reid Foundation gives an important boost to ideas that deserve serious consideration by all parties and both sides in the referendum debate. Scottish Greens have been pressing for the debate over oil revenues to also include how we harness the benefits of our renewables potential.
"We should learn from countries such as Denmark and Germany where common ownership has driven a renewables boom, and if we're serious about minimising costs for consumers then we must explore opportunities such as the lower borrowing rates available to public bodies.
"Westminster's agenda is skewed by the follies of nuclear and fracking. By taking responsibility Scotland could prioritise common ownership, create high quality jobs and move away from the fossil fuels we simply cannot afford to burn."