GMB, the energy union, says the Government's green jobs boom is
‘nothing but hot air’ unless the UK has the facilities to make
the estimated 2,700 wind turbines needed.
In a white paper published this morning [1] Ministers
boast of a green economic recovery supporting up to 220,000 UK
jobs over the next decade.
But as it stands there are no UK based facilities to
build the numbers of giant wind turbines required or a workforce
ready or big enough to electrify home heating.
If the Government wants to deliver an additional 30GW
of electricity by 2035 in wind - that equates to 2,700 giant wind
turbines or 180 turbines and jackets each year, every year, for
the next 15 years.
BiFab, a facility to make just eight jackets a year,
collapsed into administration this month with both the UK and
Scottish Governments claiming state aid rules prevented them
saving the company. [2]
Similarly, turning the switch off early on heating
homes with green gases like hydrogen would mean disruption for
bill payers and job losses in the gas and the wider distribution
network.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary,
said:
“Politicians have been parroting the familiar fantasy
that when taxpayers’ money is invested in renewables, jobs in the
UK will automatically follow.
“That is not the case to date and today’s white paper
is no different. The fact is, there is not the slightest prospect
of the situation improving unless the scale of historic failure
to support UK jobs is acknowledged and urgent counter-measures
are put in place.
“GMB is calling for a Taskforce of independent
engineers, workers and their representatives, industry and
economic experts to go line by line through the plans and
modelling and look at how feasible and how much money is needed
for these plans to create those jobs promised in local supply
chains.
“Politicians need to get real on the UK’s future
energy needs - and turning this into UK jobs – or voters will do
it for them.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-for-clean-energy-system-and-green-jobs-boom-to-build-back-greener
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55172349
Previous promises of up to 28,000 - 2011 Scottish
Government estimate of offshore wind direct employment by 2020
https://www2.gov.scot/Publications/2011/08/04110353/3
Latest figures 1,700 - direct jobs in offshore wind
in Scotland in 2018 https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/datasets/lowcarbonandrenewableenergyeconomyfirstestimatesdataset
