The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin, made a statement to Parliament on offshore wind.
The recent Pentland offshore wind farm investment announcement clearly highlights the huge economic opportunities of pursuing net zero. Given the huge number of jobs – more than 1,000 – that it will support and the substantial contribution that it will make to our economy and energy supply, I asked the cabinet secretary is she agrees that Pentland also illustrates well the opportunity to secure a strong, just transition? I am concerned that related investment opportunities may be put at risk by those who would talk down our net zero ambitions, including some in the Scottish Parliament
The Cabinet Secretary replied saying:
“Bob Doris makes a very succinct point, as did Patrick Harvie, Sarah Boyack and Liam McArthur: offshore renewables provide Scotland’s future economic growth opportunities. Those who sit here and give out misinformation about that or who do not support it are not supporting future jobs in Scotland.
“I agree that energy transition will deliver jobs, growth and energy security. Talking down that huge opportunity risks delaying action. I am delighted that those in the Parliament who talk down such an opportunity are in a very small minority.”