Greens’ plan would make Scotland ‘world leader’ in green energy sector – Greer
The Scottish Greens have unveiled plans to deliver 40,000 jobs in the green energy sector by the end of the next Scottish Parliament and said Scotland could be a “world leader” in the field.
The party’s co-leader Ross Greer pledged to create an “economic future” for communities facing the prospect of job losses due to the downturn in the oil and gas sector.
Mr Greer also said that the conflict in Iran, which has led to a rise in fuel prices, has highlighted the need to move away from relying on oil and gas.
Speaking in Renfrew on a visit to Star Refrigeration, an industrial refrigeration engineering company on Thursday, he told the Press Association: “We can rebuild Scotland’s manufacturing base. We used to be a country that made stuff, and we just don’t do nearly enough of that anymore.
“But here at Star Refrigeration, they are a brilliant example of how we can rebuild that manufacturing of things, particularly in things like district heating and heat pumps.”
He added: “There is a market for these kind of products, because people across the world want to move off oil and gas.
“We’ve just seen with the US war against Iran, how unstable oil and gas is – the resulting price hikes for everybody else in our bills.
“Moving towards electricity based green alternatives is good for the people paying their bills, and it’s good for people in manufacturing industries like this one.
“We have the opportunity to create tens of thousands of jobs – whether you are a welder, a chemical engineer, a joiner, the opportunities are endless in this sector, only if we provide government leadership.
“The Scottish Greens have a plan. We are ready to provide that leadership and create these jobs.”
He added: “The Greens are here to say that this is an industry Scotland can be a world leader in only if clear leadership is shown by government.”
Mr Greer also accused other parties of failing to act on the climate emergency, maintaining the Greens’ strong opposition to new oil and gas fields such as Rosebank and Jackdaw.
Last week, SNP leader John Swinney appeared to soften his stance on new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, saying the situation in the Middle East warranted a rethink.
Mr Greer said: “Other parties, sadly including the Scottish Government and the First Minister, want to double down on oil and gas by opening up new fields in the North Sea.
“That would be a disaster for our climate, and it wouldn’t even lower anyone’s bills.
“The only way to lower bills is to move away from oil and gas and towards renewable based systems.
“That means moving towards the likes of the district heating products that they manufacture here, moving towards the likes of heat pumps, helping people lower their bills and creating high quality manufacturing jobs in industries like this.”
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: “The extremist Greens are chronically out of touch.
“It’s all well and good to talk about renewable jobs, but this will come as cold comfort to the tens of thousands of workers in the north-east who lost their livelihoods while the Greens, Labour and the SNP cheered on the destruction of the oil and gas sector.
“It’s just common sense that while we still need oil and gas, we should support Scottish workers and produce it here, rather than relying on costly foreign imports at a time of global instability.”
Scottish Liberal Democrats climate spokesman Liam McArthur, said: “While moving to a fully renewable future is the end goal of any sensible energy strategy, we must avoid leaving workers in the North Sea stranded or undermining our domestic energy security.
“With the global situation so uncertain, more than ever we need a solid practical plan that delivers the transition we need to see but in a way that keeps the lights on, recognises the ongoing need for oil and gas and enables workers to deliver that transition.
“In just a few weeks, Scots can use their peach ballot paper to vote for a plan that does that by backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “It’s good that the Scottish Greens have taken a brief break from demanding prisons are abolished and drugs are legalised to talk about the environment, but no-one is taking them seriously.
“Only Scottish Labour has a real plan to unlock Scotland’s clean power potential and make life more affordable for Scottish families as we work to tackle the climate crisis.
“Scottish Labour will back Scottish renewables, lift the ban on clean nuclear power, create green jobs, support affordable public transport and deliver warmer homes.”