The SNP Sleight Of Hand

Photo by jinterwas

The Scottish Government yesterday published a "routemap" for our future renewable energy production. If you recall from the election campaign this year, the SNP promised that they would produce the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's electricity from renewable sources.

I have absolutely no problem with them increasing our renewable capacity. I have no problem with them producing 100% of our needs from renewables. What I do have a problem with is this "equivalent" thing.

You see, they're not actually getting rid of fossil fuels. By a sleight of hand, they're going to keep producing energy from coal, oil and gas, in addition to the renewable production. Then they're going to sell the surplus renewable power to our European neighbours.

This is like your dad giving you the keys to his car, then accompanying you everywhere you go.

In fact, according to the Scottish Greens, under this plan Scotland's carbon emissions will actually increase instead of fall.

I could understand if they were scared to dive right in to a renewable-powered country. After all, the electricity companies are forever scaremongering about the "base load". But this isn't a government which is scared to take that big step. This is a government which has seen pound signs in front of it's eyes and thinks it has got it's hands on the perfect get-rich-quick scheme.

It can claim green-ness while making money, and anyone who doesn't look too closely will be fooled.

100% renewables, good. 100% renewable equivalent, bad.