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Blueprint for a greener Scotland
06/10/2008
New proposals to ensure Scotland meets tough European climate change targets were unveiled by the Scottish Government today.
The Renewable Energy Framework includes proposals for a tenfold increase in the levels of renewable energy used for heat and transport in Scotland.
The new blueprint for a cleaner, greener Scotland aims to capitalise on the country's rich renewable energy resources, attract jobs and investment, while meeting the EU target of 20 per cent of energy to come from renewables by 2020
The plans are also supplemented by £2 million of new funding for the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.
First Minister Alex Salmond launched the Framework at the Scottish School of Forestry in Inverness, which utilises Scotland's forestry resources for sustainable biomass energy.
Mr Salmond said:
"The Renewable Energy Framework takes us closer to our vision of Scotland becoming the green energy capital of Europe by maximising the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy.
"Almost half of the energy used in Scotland goes towards heating and hot water. This Framework proposes a tenfold increase in heat energy from renewables to stimulate a diverse and vibrant heat market.
"The Framework also proposes an increase in the use of renewable fuel for transport from less than 1 per cent to 10 per cent to reduce carbon emissions.
"Tackling climate change presents huge opportunities for Scotland and despite the current economic slowdown the country's renewable energy sector is booming.
"Renewable energy is at the heart of this Government's vision of increasing sustainable economic growth and development.
"In recent weeks I have announced £1 billion of investment in renewable projects including the Clyde windfarm, Crystal Rig windfarm and Scottish Power's plans to use the Pentland Firth to generate green electricity.
"I am confident we will meet our interim target of 31 per cent of our electricity from renewables by 2011 and with our rich renewables resources we could exceed the 50 per cent target by 2020."
The First Minister was in Inverness to address the Convention of the Highlands and Islands, where he outlined the importance of the area in achieving these energy targets.
First Minister continued:
"The Highlands and Islands are absolutely central to this Government's ambitions for Scotland.
"Renewable energy offers huge opportunities for rural communities and economies. Despite the bleak global outlook, the Highlands and Islands have a very bright future thanks to the area's rich natural resources.
"Scotland's renewables sector is going from strength-to-strength, and this combined with the publication the Scottish Government's Renewable Energy Framework will see the area become - quite literally - the powerhouse of Europe."
The Scottish Government's Renewable Energy Framework consultation runs until December 1, 2008.
The Scottish Action Plan for Renewable Heat builds on recommendations of the FREDS group on heat, which reported to Ministers in February.
Further information on the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme will be announced shortly. In the meantime, interest can be registered via the Usewoodfuel website