Industry and politicians gather at Holyrood in Onshore Wind Week
Media release with images – click to download high-res versions
MSPs from across politics joined the onshore wind industry at the Scottish Parliament today (June 13) to celebrate Onshore Wind Week.
The politicians, including Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse, joined industry body Scottish Renewables and ScottishPower Renewables, among many others, to show their support for the sector.
Onshore wind provides two thirds (67%) of Scotland’s renewable electricity and employs 5,800 people in Scotland, from the Borders to the islands.
UK Government polling in May showed the technology is more popular than ever (79% support) – and more popular in Scotland than in the rest of the UK (80% support).
It has however been locked out of the UK energy market since 2015 by the UK Government.
MSPs who attended the photoshoot included Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse (SNP), Mark Ruskell (Greens), Elaine Smith (Lab) and Colin Smyth (Lab) and Liam McArthur (Lib Dem).
Organisations represented at the photoshoot included EDF Renewables, ScottishPower Renewables, CS Wind, Locogen, Senvion, innogy and more.
Other activity taking place across the UK as part of Onshore Wind Week includes:
- Publication of a new report from Vivid Economics, demonstrating that the average consumer would save £50 on their electricity bill, around 30,000 people could be employed in the onshore wind sector and millions of tonnes of carbon displaced if the UK Government removed their block on new onshore wind projects,
- Thousands of people attending the Whitelee Windfarm Family Fun Day on Sunday (June 9) to mark the UK’s biggest wind farm’s tenth birthday.
- ScottishPower Renewables publication of a BVGA report, ‘10 Years Of Whitelee Wind Farm: A Decade of Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits’, which demonstrates the positive impact the wind farm has had.
- A reception at Westminster on Wednesday (June 12), attended by industry, MPs and Lords.
