Scottish Government proposals to remove support for sustainable developments from planning policy has been branded a “retrograde step” by a leading industry body. Scottish Renewables claims the move will make it more difficult for future onshore wind developments to gain approval and will negatively impact the country’s efforts to combat climate change. Under the proposed change the presumption in favour of “development that contributes to sustainable development” would be removed from Scottish Planning Policy. The alteration, which was announced in July, is currently the subject of a consultation which closes on October 9. The Scottish Government said the change is required to “overcome current conflict in the system” and “actively address the lengthy technical debates” around how many homes will be needed in the future. But Scottish Renewables is arguing that will be at the expense of onshore wind and hydroelectric developments.
Energy Voice 3rd Sept 2020 read more »
The Scottish government has weighed into the row over energy network companies’ spending plans, accusing Ofgem of jeopardising the country’s net-zero targets by blocking investments. Michael Matheson, the cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure, expressed “grave concern” over the regulator’s draft price controls, which govern the investments and profits that the monopoly companies can make at consumers’ expense in the next five years. Ofgem has proposed cutting billions of pounds from the spending plans of companies including Scottish Power, SSE and National Grid, following criticism that previous price controls needlessly inflated energy bills to fund excess profits. In a letter to the UK government, seen by The Times, Mr Matheson says he is worried “that Ofgem’s draft determinations for electricity transmission and the gas networks place Scotland’s net-zero targets in jeopardy” and says Ofgem should be given “a direct and explicit objective” to support the delivery of net-zero carbon emissions.
Times 3rd Sept 2020 read more »