Osborne budget fails to invest in Scotland’s renewable future
March 22, 2012 | 
Author Budget could ’undermine’ Scotland’s green energy ambitions.
Scottish Greens claimed yesterday that the UK Budget will undermine Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions.
George Osborne’s measures including further cuts in corporation tax for big business, incentives to extract more fossil fuels and no support for Scotland’s massive renewable energy potential.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie said:
“Scotland has the lion’s share of renewable energy resource in the UK, but the Chancellor has shown himself stuck on the dirty fuels of the last century. By investing in Scotland’s renewable energy potential rather than old fashioned fossil fuels, the UK government could have given our economy the shot in the arm it needs. Tax breaks for big oil and gas corporations do nothing for the environment or equality – Scotland needs this budget like a hole in the head.”
The SNP cautiously welcomed the plans for Enhanced Capital Allowances to apply at Nigg, Irvine and Dundee, which they said means that new, low carbon technologies and industries will now bring investment into these areas. They also welcomed the commitment to support oil and gas decommissioning and the new field allowances west of Shetland.
Posted in Politics