The SNP have demanded that the Tories explain their ‘hypocrisy over
windfarms’ after it emerged that two of their MSPs profit from wind energy
– despite the party having previously opposed the development of such projects.
Details in the Scottish Parliament’s Register of Interests reveal that Tory
MSPs Peter Chapman and John Scott profit from wind energy.
The Register of Interests for John Scott (MSP, Ayr) states: “From 6 March
2009 part of the Farm’s income comes from a contract with CRE Energy Ltd to
provide access over the farm for the purpose of building and maintaining a
windfarm,” and is available here:
http://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/99137.aspx
In his Register of Interests, Peter Chapman (MSP, North East Scotland)
states that he owns “ordinary shares in Redbogs Renewables Ltd, a wind
energy company, with a value of £750,000 which represents 15% of the issued
share capital,” and is available
here: http://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/99161.aspx
The Tories were proven wrong on the impact of wind energy on tourism last
week – a key part of their anti-renewables agenda – after an independent
report showed that wind farms have no negative impact on tourism.
Commenting, SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald – a member of the Holyrood Economy &
Jobs Committee, said: “These findings show just how shameless and
self-interested the Tories are. Despite arguing against wind farms, some of
their MSPs are more than happy to turn a profit from them.
“The catastrophic policies of the Tory Government at Westminster only
emphasise how utterly misguided the party’s renewable energy policy is.
“Not only have they been happy to make money from their investments in wind
turbines whilst criticising them publicly, it also emerged this week that
their reasoning is completely false – with a report showing that wind
turbines had, if anything, a positive effect on tourism across Scotland.”
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