May 2015

Barely more than a baker’s dozen of (mostly local) people applied for the £150,000 job of chief executive of Wave Energy Scotland, a newly-created quango set up in Inverness under the aegis of another quango – Highlands Enterprise. http://www.scottishenergynews.com/highlands-enterprise-splurges-000s-yet-just-14-people-apply-for-150000-job-as-chief-of-wave-energy-scotland-including-the-successful-internal-candidate/

David Cameron, infuriated by the corporation’s election coverage, appoints BBC critic John Whittingdale to “sort out the BBC” ahead of the royal charter review next year http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11598450/Tories-go-to-war-with-the-BBC.html

A former energy minister has accused the governments of Scotland and the UK of overseeing a “dismal failure of energy policy” related to the Western Isles. https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/78522/energy-policy-failure-for-the-western-isles/

    By Blair Dingwall Council officials have warned that proposals for two turbines in an area of Aberdeenshire where 20 windfarms are already planned could damage the local landscape. Full planning permission is being sought by WPD Rothmaise for the 326ft devices on farmland at the Hill of Rothmaise, Read more

With a proper Conservative majority there is a clear opportunity to reduce the number of departments and for the Department of Energy and Climate Change to be taken over by the environment department. http://www.thegwpf.com/owen-paterson-decc-should-be-taken-over-by-environment-ministry/

Apple investing $1bn in a giant solar farm in California. Tesla building the world’s biggest battery factory to power electric cars. The Chinese deploying record numbers of wind turbines and solar panels. The renewables revolution looks unstoppable. Except in Britain. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/10/renewables-revolution-is-unstoppable-except-in-the-uk

In one of the first comments from the energy sector on the outcome of the UK general election, a Scottish renewables chief has expressed regret at the defeat of former Energy minister Ed Davey. http://www.scottishenergynews.com/scottish-renewables-chief-regrets-election-defeat-of-former-uk-energy-minister/

    Moira Kerr ISLANDERS were left stunned when a landing barge invaded the tranquility of an idyllic Hebridean beach and began unloading heavy construction machinery. Residents have complained after rock pecker machines were driven across the pristine white sand at Gallanach and began channelling a route through the cliff Read more