100% of energy from renewable sources “essential” for the planet – say the Greens

It is “essential” that the UK generates 100% of its energy from renewable sources, the Scottish Greens have said.

As the general election campaign enters its final week, the party has called on Scotland and the whole of the UK to push for heating, transport and electricity to be powered by green sources.

Before visiting an East Lothian wind farm, party co-leader Lorna Slater touted her plans for a £28 billion annual investment to lead to a Green New Deal.

“100% of our energy from renewable sources is essential for our planet and could save society billions compared to relying on bogus solutions like carbon capture and storage,” she said.

“This would be a huge opportunity for our climate, but also for our economy.

“Scotland has a wealth of renewable energy sources and we need to put them at the heart of our energy plans.

“That’s why we’re proposing a Green New Deal, which will invest £28 billion of public money every year, financed by taxes on polluters and the richest 1% of households.

“Investment is crucial if we want to be at the forefront of the global renewable energy revolution and ensure a robust, safe and cheap energy system for all.

“In recent years, we have observed rapid technological development. Heat pumps are now an extremely efficient alternative to gas boilers, energy storage solutions are appearing on the Internet, and electric cars are quickly replacing the old-fashioned combustion engine.

“The costs of green technologies are also falling rapidly. The price of solar panels has fallen by 90% in the past decade, threatening to render fossil-fuel alternatives obsolete.

“It is inexplicable that instead of adopting green solutions, Labor and the Tories are making greater use of nuclear energy, which is expensive, dangerous and leaves a long and toxic legacy.”

Scottish Tory candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie said: “The Greens’ dogmatic refusal to support new nuclear projects in Scotland continues to defy common sense.

“Their blind eyes mean Scotland’s economic and energy needs will suffer in the years ahead.

“Voters across Scotland recognize that nuclear power should form part of our energy mix as we move to net zero, rather than being rejected by the Greens – and the SNP – on purely ideological grounds.”