SCOTLAND will only receive “pocket change” from a new GB Energy fund to help communities across the country set up their own green energy supplies.
A total of £30 million has been allocated for the first wave of a new fund from publicly owned GB Energy, which aims to support more than 1000 local and community-led clean energy projects across the UK.
Yet just 6% of this cash (£1.8m) has been allocated to Scotland, with the SNP branding the move a "shameful token gesture".
It comes after The National revealed that GB Energy's headquarters is relying on temporary staff, while the majority of the company's workforce could be earning at least £100,000 a year.
The UK Government previously said the scheme would allow both local councils and community groups to “progress plans for their own clean power projects – from solar panels on local buildings to village-owned wind farms and hydro schemes in nearby rivers”.
SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar said that while Scotland was “home to 30% of UK renewables generation and 82% of UK oil and gas production”, it was being given ” just 6% of GB Energy cash”.
She said: “The Labour Party is ruining our premier energy industry while dishing out pocket change to energy-rich Scotland.”
SNP ministers have been pushing the UK Government to scrap the energy profits levy amid concerns about the impact it is having on jobs and investment in the North Sea oil and gas sector.
The party has also accused Labour of having failed to meet commitments made to cut energy bills for households, after previously pledging that GB Energy would lower bills by £300.
Dunbar said: “Shameful token gestures won’t cut it when people in energy-rich Scotland are seeing their bills rise £1000 higher than the Labour Party promised while our energy jobs are being lost at an industrial scale.
“We were told GB Energy would create ‘thousands of jobs’ with Scottish voters promised the Labour Party would create 70,000 roles in Scotland – absolutely none of that has come to fruition.”
Dunbar added: “Grangemouth has been shut down, Labour’s supertax on Scotland’s energy is ruining 1000 energy jobs a month and their flagship 'GB Energy' is diverting investment south of the Border – it’s no wonder more and more people are concluding we need a fresh start with independence to put Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the new fund will give people “power” over future energy supplies.
He said: “I know many people are worried about climate change and feel like they’ve got no control over where their energy comes from or how they can actually make a difference.
“Today we’re changing that by giving people power. Whether it’s solar panels on a local library or a community-owned wind farm, we’re letting people decide what clean energy projects they want and making sure they feel the benefits of the clean energy transition in their pockets too.”
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, local energy and jobs minister Martin McCluskey said there was a “very well-developed community energy network already” in Scotland, adding the £1.8m would be put into a Scottish Government fund to help local projects.
He said: “We’re working with the Scottish Government on this, because that fund is working really well, so communities can apply for money to design and to own and operate their own community generation.
"We know there is already demand for community energy. At the moment there is about 700 community energy clubs across the UK that are supplying about 450 megawatts of power.”
Meanwhile, Burnham said the new fund will give people “power” over future energy supplies.
He said: “I know many people are worried about climate change and feel like they’ve got no control over where their energy comes from or how they can actually make a difference.
“Today we’re changing that by giving people power. Whether it’s solar panels on a local library or a community-owned wind farm, we’re letting people decide what clean energy projects they want and making sure they feel the benefits of the clean energy transition in their pockets too.”
