wpa406e4a5.png

 

wp343c8515.png

  Local Services   I Cars  I   Stuff 4 Sale   I   Jobs   I                             

Comhairle: Urgent need to press ahead with sub-sea cable   15/5/13

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has responded to the joint Scottish and UK Government report released today which considers the case for developing renewables projects on the Scottish islands.

Comhairle leader Angus Campbell said: "This report is an excellent piece of work that reiterates and underlines the policy position and arguments that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has been advocating for the past 10 years.

“The report clearly demonstrates that the on-shore renewables sector offers the Outer Hebrides potential for significant new economic development.

“It demonstrates that the Outer Hebrides has an opportunity to make an important contribution to Scottish and UK renewables and decarbonisation targets and importantly it shows that Island wind is competitive with other low-carbon technologies.

“The report also confirms what the Comhairle has been warning about repeatedly over the years - that there are significant challenges for the Scottish islands, particularly the barriers around transmission charges and grid access.

“It is now essential that these barriers are clearly addressed in order to allow renewables projects in the Scottish islands to move to implementation and I look forward to this report being a launching point for rapid progress being made on these two critical issues.”

Mr Campbell stressed: “Time is of the essence and I look forward to Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission submitting the "needs case" for the Outer Hebrides inter-connector to OFGEM without further delay.

“I would also call on SHET to publish in full the timings for the Outer Hebrides interconnector project and where they are with that process as there is a real danger that we are running out of time to capitalise on the renewables resources of these Islands.

“We - and I mean the islands, Scotland and the UK- cannot afford to miss that opportunity.”