Other News…..

MSPs are being urged to recognise the value of Scotland’s mountains, and to protect a vital national asset. http://www.mcofs.org.uk/news.asp?s=2&id=MCS-N11298&nc=Landscape%20Matters

Fund managers controlling billions of pounds invested in UK energy companies have warned that they are considering pulling out of the sector because of political interference in the market. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/investors-threaten-to-abandon-big-six-over-political-interference-in-pricing-8931492.html

MSPs are being urged to recognise the value of Scotland’s mountains, and to protect a vital national asset. http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News/Mountaineers-urge-MSPs-to-recognise-threat-from-too-many-wind-farms-11112013.htm

Energy minister Edward Davey awarded the grant to utility SSE, for its National Offshore Wind Turbine Test Facility project, which it is developing with Scottish Enterprise. http://www.windpoweroffshore.com/article/1220439/hunterston-test-site-receives-1million-grant

Fife Council has been urged to publish accurate maps of wind turbines erected or planned in the region so decision makers can better judge their cumulative impact. http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/campaigners-say-councillors-need-to-be-given-complete-picture-of-fife-s-wind-turbines-1.151759

A TWEEDDALE councillor admitted yesterday that he felt “disillusioned” after being probed by the Standards Commission for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland – See more at: http://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/roundup/articles/2013/11/11/477951-exonerated-tweeddale-councillor-says-watchdog-probe-left-him-disillusioned/#sthash.bJIrzB2L.dpuf http://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/roundup/articles/2013/11/11/477951-exonerated-tweeddale-councillor-says-watchdog-probe-left-him-disillusioned/

Nov 8 (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats have agreed in coalition talks to put a moratorium on fracking for shale gas, leading members of the two parties said on Friday. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/08/germany-energy-idUSL5N0IT2Z820131108

Supermarkets are seeing a squeeze on spending by the poorest households in Britain as rising utility bills force families to make a hard choice between energy and food. http://www.thegwpf.org/heat-eat-rising-uk-energy-costs-seep-food-spending/