Just as I predicted, the UK government are beginning to manoeuvre against the SNP to raise wind as a top political issue coming up to the referendum vote next year. The reason is simple: the SNP economic case for independence was based on North Sea oil but it faltered when oil started running out. Renewables were seen not only as an economic but a political fix. Independence was still viable when oil ran out because renewables would take their place. We know that to be rubbish, but so far the Scottish Press, politicians and public have swallowed it.
So it was inevitable that the UK would try to raise this issue in the run up the the Scottish referendum.
It has now happened.
In a Scottish Government Press Release we hear:
“We now know that the UK Government has also proposed a last ditch amendment to the Energy Bill, which will allow UK ministers to close the Renewables Obligation in Scotland. I find it extraordinary that the UK Government has chosen to act in this way, and to strip Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament of their powers and discretion in an area of such vital importance.”
To understand the full implication, we need to know that the power to promote renewables in the Scotland Act which set up devolution was one of the few powers not already exercised by the old Scottish Office that ran Scotland.
So this was (supposedly) a major coup for Scotland … to have control over this aspect of our infrastructure. And as one predicted the Scottish politicians were very keen (TOO KEEN) to be seen to be using this new power to its full.
So, now, it would seem, the UK ministers want to take control of wind subsidies from Scotland … just before a referendum on independence? Are they barking mad? Such a move was sure to inflame the SNP and lead to a major stushie and raise nationalistic feeling. How could the UK government want that?
But the real truth is that the UK government have no interest what-so-ever in taking any responsibility for wind in Scotland. That was why this area was devolved! Would Scots accept English imposed windmills that litter our land? – No! Our press and politicians would have fought them tooth and nail. But give Scotland Scottish windmills — that reduce the need for English windmills and give the illusion that the Scottish parliament had real power. That is why the Scottish government were given this power … so that they and only they would be responsible for the windmills.
Originally the aim was for the Scottish landscape to take far more than its fair share of wind. If we count all renewables (i.e. Hydro) we far exceeded our fair share and didn’t need to build a single windmill till 2008. So, why would the UK want this policy back in their hands? It is a political time-bomb as more and more people find their favourite countryside is becoming and industrial estate and more and more Scots are pushed into fuel poverty.
I am absolutely sure that the UK government have no wish at all of ever being responsible for Alex Salmond’s wind follies.
BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE DAMNED SURE THE SNP HAVE ALL THE CREDIT!
And what better way to ensure the SNP claim total responsibility for the wind estates and the higher fuel bills in Scotland than to get the nationalistic SNP to create a lot of public stushie over “THEIR” renewables and so that the public are made very aware BY THE SNP that it is the SCOTTISH government that are responsible for the increased electricity and fuel bills due to their SCOTTISH green taxes.
So this will become a big issue — just as we are heading toward winter bills. And I have no doubt that the UK government have more planned so that by the time of the independence referendum the SNP wind policy will look entirely ridiculous.
And that tidal wave of publicity is beginning as highlighted by the following Scotland Against Spin Press release labelled URGENT. The Scottish government and SNP are like lambs being led to the slaughter on this:
UK takes wind out of Salmond’s sails
The UK Government signals that the days of endless UK-subsidy funded wind turbines in Scotland are numbered as it takes back the power to set subsidy rates for renewable energy in Scotland.
Not convinced Cameron is that smart.
He would also be running the risk the SNP would take the opportunity to wash their hands of their own mess – once Westminster has taken back the power they would be free to winge knowing they had no responsibility, as normal SNP practice. Salmond may be smart enough to know this is a campaign he must dismount from.
Germany has only been able to maintain its deception of a large renewable sector by ‘sharing’ it’s sporadic over production of electricity with its neighbours, who don’t get to claim the renewable smug value. Any healthy energy network can manage a certain percentage of wind power but a country that isn’t using all of that energy and/or needs to import on a regular basis doesn’t have all of those renewables, the wider network does. So Scotland couldn’t have 100% of renewables if it was exporting 90% of it to England and importing fossil fuel power when the wind isn’t blowing. Without England or somewhere else as an energy trading partner it would have to shut those windmills down or lose the network on a regular basis.
It’s a very dodgy plan to base a country’s future on another paying for a fashionable and problematic product. Especially if they are planning to slap that country in the face*. Potentially England could start paying less than market rate for renewable energy because it’s unreliable. ‘Wellll, we’ll take it off your hands but these days nobody wants green energy. It’s so 2013.”
There’s also a replacement wakeup call about to arrive. It won’t be long before as many need changing as are going up. We won’t have paid for the first batch and the next generation will be added to the bills too.
* I don’t know what income Scotland gets from tourism but I suspect that it will take a big hit from a lack of English visitors if it goes for independence. I’m one of those who always thinks of myself as British, not English, not least beause most of my ancestors are Scottish or Irish. I even share the same name as a Scottish crannog. Despite having the three worst holidays of my life there I still regard it fondly. I don’t think I would ever visit again if it separated, not because I would resent the split but because if I wanted to visit a foreign country where the locals don’t like the English, I’d rather go somewhere less wet and covered in windmills.
Good points.
“Potentially England could start paying less than market rate for renewable energy because it’s unreliable. ‘Wellll, we’ll take it off your hands but these days nobody wants green energy. It’s so 2013.”
I believe Germany does this with off peak Danish wind power, not because it is unfashionable but simply because they don’t need more off peak power.
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It’s a very dodgy plan to base a country’s future on another paying for a fashionable and problematic product. Especially if they are planning to slap that country in the face
It was a trap … we sceptics warned them about this and I even explicitly contacted the climate minister to make him aware. As such the Scottish government walked willingly & knowingly into the trap because they were totally arrogant, conceited and unwilling to listen to advice from anyone outside their own circles. In the big bad world outside the United Kingdom it wouldn’t be their friends setting those traps.
For those who know, some may think this was a very immoral thing for the UK establishment to do, but the truth is that it was better we found out this way that the Scottish government just wasn’t up to international politics.
Obviously you don’t know Soapy Salmond. There’s not a cat in hell’s chance of him disowning his beloved wind turbines. Like most other SNP policies he never thinks things through and appears little interested if the plans are sustainable/affordable in the long term.
No, i’m afraid Cameron has dealt his cards well on this occasion.
By less than market rate you should perhaps think pittance. Let’s face it even a pittance will be better than nothing if Soapy ever achieved his wish for independence. Just as well he’s going to be disappointed.
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