SCOTLAND has for some time led the UK’s efforts to be greener and cleaner,
setting and meeting ambitious greenhouse targets and being at the forefront
of green technologies.
It’s right and proper that an experienced energy-producing nation like
Scotland should pursue a green agenda, particularly since it makes business
as well as environmental sense. We’re clearly on the right side of the
argument at a time when there is still much work to be done in persuading
some – such as President Donald Trump – of the necessity of a greener
future that will reduce the devastating effects of climate change we are
seeing around the globe.
News that the use of electric vehicle charge points in Scotland has soared
by 43 per cent in the last year is the latest evidence that consumers are
increasingly prepared to go green. According to the RAC Foundation,
Scotland is on the cusp of a “motoring revolution”, but will need more and
better plug-in infrastructure to ensure a smooth transition to electric
vehicles.
But the vast amounts of portable electricity that will need to be produced
to service this revolution will doubtless leave some perplexed about how
and where it is being produced.
In particular, our planners must ensure they strike the right balance when
considering what renewable energy projects should be given the go-ahead.
And, as pointed out by David Gibson, outgoing chief executive of
Mountaineering Scotland, it’s vital that we protect our country’s wild
beauty from overly intrusive wind farms.
Mr Gibson, who leaves his post next March after 11 years in the role,
believes some areas of the Highlands have already been “irrevocably
damaged” by turbines, and warns that others – including the Creag Riabhach
Wind Farm in Sutherland, and the Stronelairg scheme in the Monadhliath
mountains south east of Loch Ness – could “wreck the landscape”.
The Scottish Government revised its planning framework in 2014, adopting
rules aimed at protecting Scotland’s most rugged and beautiful landscapes.
Many campaigners, however, believe the new approach falls short, that it is
too difficult and expensive to challenge wind farm decisions.
Scotland’s reputation as a prestigious tourist destination with some of the
most stunning scenery on the planet continues to grow apace – VisitScotland
estimates that tourism is now worth in the region of £11 billion a year to
the economy.
We must be careful that our voracious appetite for wind farms does not
threaten the goose that lays the golden egg. Scots, too, of course, should
be able to fully enjoy the majesty of our mountains and wilderness.
Wind turbines will doubtless play a part of our energy strategy for some
time to come. But we must surely encourage other, less intrusive solutions
– such as offshore wind and wave technology – too. Our ancient landscape
deserves and requires respect and consideration.
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