IAIN Macwhirter is correct to point out the scandal of promised wind energy jobs going abroad (“Loss of BiFab is a national disgrace as promised green jobs go abroad”, December 6).
A decade ago the Scottish Government published the document “Scotland’s Offshore Wind Route Map” which estimated that there would be 28,377 Scottish direct jobs in offshore wind by 2020, but the latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) data shows just 1,900. In 2012 Alex Salmond, while trying to promote wind energy to Donald Trump, said “as we mobilise this industry, as we are established as world leaders, tens of thousands of jobs come to this country”. But ONS is showing just 4,200 direct Scottish jobs in wind both onshore and offshore.
Interestingly, ONS states that there are 2,800 direct Scottish jobs in nuclear energy, which the Scottish Government intends to shut down. In my view the vast majority of wind energy jobs are during construction, so in the longer term Scottish Government energy policy may result in fewer jobs, not more.
Geoff Moore, Alness.
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