RENEWABLES TARGETS TALK HOLLOW WITHOUT ACTION ON HEAT
In response to an Audit Scotland report, which says that Scotland's strategy for renewable energy is clear but achieving goals will be challenging, Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood's economy and energy committee, said:
"This report echoes concerns I have previously expressed about the lack of progress on renewable heat. Heat makes up half of our energy consumption in Scotland, so it is crucial to Scotland's low carbon ambitions. Renewable and low carbon heating schemes can also help reduce bills and tackle fuel poverty.
"Audit Scotland is right to point out that there is no national network for transporting heat, and I would hope this focuses ministers' minds on the need to support small-scale projects at local level. Instead we've seen them giving the go-ahead to large scale biomass on the Forth. The Scottish Government likes to talk up Scotland's world-leading renewables targets but such talk is hollow without action on heat."