SNP call on Tories to unblock onshore wind to benefit consumers

The SNP have renewed calls for the UK government to unblock onshore wind following a report that reveals new onshore wind projects would create 2,300 jobs in Scotland and save bill payers £50 per year by 2035.

Under the Tories, onshore wind is currently excluded from competing for government-supported contracts to generate power. A report published today (Tuesday) by Vivid Economics shows that if new onshore wind projects were allowed to go ahead, it would be the cheapest way to generate new power for consumers and create 31,000 jobs across the UK by 2035. It would also deliver £360 million a year in exports to the global onshore wind market – a fourfold increase on today - and increase Gross Value Added (GVA) in Scotland to £50 million per year.

In May, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), suggested that the UK’s onshore wind capacity could be increased from 13 gigawatts (GW) now to 35GW by 2035 as part of a low-cost energy strategy to reach net zero emissions. The SNP has said that the UK government should immediately unblock onshore wind and follow the advice of the CCC to ensure the UK reaches its 2050 net-zero target and Scotland its more ambitious 2045 target.

Scotland is leading the way in renewable energy, having generated the equivalent of three quarters of its electricity from renewables in 2018. The SNP Scottish Government have made it clear they want to see further investment in renewable energy, and support routes to market onshore wind.

Commenting, SNP Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson Drew Hendry MP, said:

“The Tories are failing consumers by blocking onshore wind from competing for government-backed contracts – costing Scotland thousands of jobs and hitting household bills.

“Its high time the UK government started supporting our onshore wind sector to boost the green economy, and deliver a cheaper and climate-change friendly alternative to generate power - reducing total electricity costs and saving households money at a time of rising living costs.

“When it comes to renewable energy, we once again see a tale of two governments. The SNP Scottish Government is leading the way on renewable energy and climate change, while Westminster fails to live up to its climate change responsibilities.

“If the UK government won't act and continues to impede Scotland reaching its climate change targets, then full powers should be devolved to Holyrood so the SNP government can get on with boosting our onshore wind potential.”