We are writing to highlight the need for Scotland to have much more control
over its energy policy, whether this is under independence or more devolution.
Scotland needs greater energy powers to escape from English advocacy of
economically and politically bankrupt nuclear power and to counteract
declining support from the UK Government for Scottish priorities for
renewable energy.
Two types of power over energy are essential. First, a Scottish energy
regulator must be established with powers that include allowing Scottish
electricity networks to be more proactive in investing in upgrades in the
local grids. This will allow renewable energy schemes to be set up more
easily.
Second, the Scottish Government should have control of a large portion of
incentives for low-carbon energy. Scotland comprises one third of the
British land mass and thus a sizeable share of renewable energy resources.
We condemn the (so far) feeble proposals for post-referendum devolution
“promised” by the unionist parties which do not include important powers,
especially new powers over energy, that must form an essential part of any
meaningful increase in self-determination for Scotland.
Dr David Toke
Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Aberdeen
Professor Peter Strachan and Dr Abhishek Agarwal’
Aberdeen Business School,
Robert Gordon University
Professor Ian Miles
University of Manchester Business School
Professor Bryan Wynne
Department of Sociology, Lancaster University
Dr Dan van der Horst
School of Geosciences,
University of Edinburgh
Dr Antje Brown,
Department of Geography and Sustainable Development,
University of St Andrews
Jonathon Porritt
Forum for the Future, London
Shaun Burnie, Gatehouse of Fleet
Dr Paul Dorfman
UCL Energy Institute
University College London
Dr Keith Baker,
Department of Social Sciences,
Northumbria University
Dr Alan Terry
Department of Geography and Environmental Management,
University of the West of England
Dr Richard Cowell,
School of Planning and Geography
Cardiff University
Herbert Eppel
HE Translations,
Oxford House
Dr David Lowry
Stoneleigh, Surrey
Dr Ian Fairlie
Highbury, London
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