Shetland ‘at the heart’ of SNP’s expansion plans
Thank you for your fine coverage of last Saturday’s meeting of community councils resisting the ongoing renewable energy stampede.
SNP policy is to increase Scotland’s existing renewables base sixfold. They will not willingly devolve powers to block it
Launching “It’s Scotland’s Energy”, last December, John Swinney told Hannah Mary Goodlad straight:
“Your part of the world, Shetland, is at the very heart of Scotland’s energy story, from the first years of oil and gas […] right up to …. the beginnings of our second energy opportunity.”
It couldn’t be clearer. Shetland is “at the very heart” of the SNP’s expansion plans.
On acceptance of her ministerial post Swinney’s trap closed.
She must follow party policy on national issues, hence her refusal to back the national community councils’ initiative.
Moreover, she cannot make decisions on projects or policies specific to her own constituency.
Unless the community councils’ campaign succeeds in changing SNP party policy, there will be no devolution of planning powers to councils, and no “Shetland Energy Act”.
Meanwhile, Swinney, having ousted the LibDems and manacled their successor, is celebrating a ‘home run’.
Perhaps, Ms Goodlad will propose a motion at October’s SNP party conference?
John Tulloch
Aberdeen
Politicians stop short of backing energy moratorium and call for Shetland specific plan
