Call for Scotland to generate 100% of electricity from renewables within 50 years

Scotland should generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources within 50 years, according to the Scottish Countryside Alliance.
Unveiling its ‘manifesto’Â for the 2007 Holyrood elections, the SCA said climate change was a crucial issue for rural Scotland and its country sports, and called for a massive increase in Executive funding for research and development into all forms of renewable energy.
Tony Andrews, SCA Chief Executive, said: “Climate change is real. It threatens the rural environment and economy and that is why we have placed carbon reduction and renewable energy at the centre of our manifesto for the Holyrood elections.
“Onshore windfarms are a divisive issue in rural Scotland. We risk spoiling our landscape, which draws tourists from across the world, and undermining our valuable rural sports.
âInstead, we must employ the full range of renewable technologies including wave, tidal and biomass as well as micro-renewables for individual homes and businesses. A thriving renewables sector will help Scotland reduce its carbon footprint and boost the rural economy.â
Other key manifesto demands include:
- A government-backed campaign to encourage the public to “Buy Scottish”.
- Reduction in red tape to make it easier to start and grow rural businesses.
- Reduction in business rates for rural businesses to allow them to compete more effectively.
- Reform and relaxation of planning regulations to allow more land to be released for building affordable homes.
- Reform of road fuel taxation to boost production of biodiesel and bioethanol.
- Increased use of underground and seabed cables as alternatives to pylon lines.
- A substantial increase in the budget for rural roads.
- A presumption against closure of rural schools and hospitals unless there is community support.
- Every police force to produce an annual rural policing plan which explains their priorities to local communities and ensures best use of resources.
- MSPâs to work with the relevant bodies to ensure that the contribution of shooting, hunting and angling to landscape and biodiversity conservation is utilised and further enhanced.
- The introduction of an exit strategy for all Single Species Protection policies.
- Food and countryside issues to be incorporated into the national curriculum.