100% of energy from renewables ‘essential’ for the planet, Greens say
Moving towards renewables would ‘save the public billions’, Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater has said.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is “essential” for the UK to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources, the Scottish Greens have said.
As the General Election campaign enters its final week, the party have called for Scotland and the wider UK to aim to power heating, transport and electricity from green sources.
Ahead of a visit to an East Lothian wind farm, the party’s co-leader Lorna Slater touted her plans for a £28 billion annual investment to bring about a Green New Deal.
“100% of our energy coming from renewables is essential for our planet, and it could also save the public billions compared to relying on false solutions like carbon capture and storage,” she said.
“It would be a huge opportunity for our climate, but also for our economy.
“Scotland has an abundance of renewable resources and we need to put them at the heart of our energy plans.
“That is why we are proposing a Green New Deal that would see £28 billion of public investment every year, funded by taxes on polluters and the top 1% of wealthiest households.
“Investment is critical if we are to be at the leading edge of the global renewables revolution and deliver a robust, secure and cheap energy system for all.
“In recent years we have seen rapid technological development. Heat pumps now offer an extremely efficient alternative to gas boilers, energy storage solutions are coming online, and electric cars are rapidly pushing out the old-fashioned internal combustion engine.
“The costs of green technologies are plummeting too. The price of solar panels has come down by 90% over the last decade, threatening to make fossil fuel alternatives obsolete.
“It’s inexplicable that instead of embracing green solutions, Labour and Tories are doubling down on nuclear power, which is costly, dangerous and leaves a long and toxic legacy.”
Scottish Tory candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie said: “The Greens’ dogmatic refusal to back new nuclear developments in Scotland continues to defy common sense.
“Their blinkered views mean Scotland’s economic and energy needs will be harmed in the years ahead.
“Voters across Scotland recognise nuclear should be part of our energy mix as we transition to net zero, rather than the Greens – and the SNP – dismissing it for purely ideological reasons.”