A chance to work together to ‘achieve something of real significance for Shetlanders’
Thank you for John Scott’s letter arguing for a Shetland Energy Plan.
Shetland Islands Council’s response (Ref.1, below) to the community councils’ initiative was indeed disappointing, however Cllr Robinson is right to point to Shetland’s parliamentarians.
As an MSP and government minister, Hannah Mary Goodlad has exactly the kind of “seat at the table” needed to fight for this. Indeed, it was a prominent campaign pledge:
“To work towards devolving all planning decisions for energy projects, regardless of size, to Shetland Islands Council” (SIC).
She told Shetland News (Ref.2, below);
“The Shetland Energy Act is trying to grasp …. what we had in 1974 with the ZCC Act.
“We need control on the price, on who decides if wind farms go ahead, and we get control on who benefits.”
Some necessary powers remain with Westminster and she and Alistair Carmichael MP, who campaigned with Emma McDonald for an energy development pause, have already met to arrange co-operation.
However, it is important to get moving with this “Shetland Energy Act/Plan” before even more damage is done.
Opposition is growing fast as community councils across Scotland band together to resist the SNP’s renewables expansion plans, and Shetland must not be left ‘holding the baby’.
Ms Goodlad and Mr Carmichael will have no better opportunity to honour their campaign pledges and achieve something of real significance for Shetlanders.
Certainly, if Westminster is willing to move on price, etc., the onus will be on the SNP to relent and devolve the necessary planning controls to SIC.
John Tulloch
Aberdeen
References:
1. Community Councils Initiative:
https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/06/02/chances-moratorium-energy-projects-slim/
2. HMG pledge:
https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/03/24/snp-candidate-hannah-mary-goodlad/
3. Carmichael-Goodlad meeting:
https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/06/04/carmichael-new-msp-goodlad-hold/
