Fuel poverty ‘shocker’ should power energy reform
Kevin Craigens
It is the “greatest injustice” that so many people are in fuel poverty in the isles, when there are energy producers generating so much power.
This was the view of Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, speaking at the Holyrood Sources Live show in Islesburgh Community Centre this morning (Tuesday).
The Holyrood Sources podcast ended it’s live islands tour in Lerwick today, with the episode due for release later in the week.
Mrs Forbes was joined by several guests, with the topic of conversation turning to renewable energy and balancing that with industry and community benefits.
“It is an absolute shocker for generations to come that our islands are responsible for generating such a wealth of power… and yet we have pensioners and others in fuel poverty,” she said.
The show’s host Calum Macdonald asked if something was “just not clicking” between policy and legislation.
Using Viking Energy Windfarm as an example, Mr Macdonald said the windfarm could power up to half a million homes but its owner SSE was given £2 million to switch off its turbines in August.
He added that fuel poverty in the isles was around 30 per cent.
Mrs Forbes said the chief executive of Octopus Energy believed that Scotland could have the cheapest electricity bills in Europe and “might at times pay nothing.”
“My big hope, which I suspect I may be disappointed, is that Labour tackles this head on and really gets to grips with it,” Mrs Forbes said.
Labour’s new GB Energy had “its place” but was not set up to tackle energy inequality.
Mrs Forbes added: “What we need is a big vision from the UK government — that the Scottish government is willing to support — for complete reform, saying this is Scotland’s energy, and we will not tolerate having anyone in fuel poverty that lives within a metre or a mile of these turbines.”
To read the full story, read Friday’s edition of The Shetland Times.
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