SNP ministers have been accused of adopting a “pie in the sky” energy policy that will drive up fuel poverty, after announcing plans to significantly reduce reliance on gas. The GMB union said that the Scottish government was attacking the gas industry and that an increased reliance on imports from countries including Russia raised ethical concerns. It added that politicians were ignoring the reality of daily life by shifting from gas to more expensive, greener alternatives. The Scottish government has said that by 2032, 80 per cent of homes will be heated by low-carbon energy sources. Gary Smith, the GMB Scotland secretary, said that to achieve this would need one domestic gas boiler to be replaced by a more expensive electric heating system every four minutes for the next fifteen years. About 80 per cent of Scottish homes are heated by gas, which the GMB says is three times cheaper than electricity. Mr Smith said the idea that people would tolerate watching heating bills triple was “pie in the sky”. A consultation on the government’s energy strategy closes in May.
Times 26th April 2017 read more »