In 2015, the Tory Government axed the £1 billion grant which could have created 600 jobs in Peterhead while helping Scotland become a global leader in clean energy technology – despite the funding being promised in their 2015 manifesto and a major promise from David Cameron in the 2014 referendum campaign.
“I think the Tories must think the people of the North-east have really short memories. It was only a few years ago that there was a billion-pound project ready to go and it was ditched by the Tory Government. Indeed, SNP MPs were pushing the Westminster Government to act on carbon capture projects being worked-up in the North-east as far back as 2007.
“The £31million is very welcome but we’d be light years ahead of where we are now and our global competitors if the UK Government hadn’t pulled funding of a much larger magnitude from the Carbon Capture and Storage project all those years ago. It just goes to prove that the UK Government always turns up too late for Scotland.
“Scotland can and should be at the forefront of energy technology - that’s what will secure jobs and investment in our region. We need to take powers into our own hands with independence to make Scotland a global leader in energy and protect jobs in our region. A net zero, a greener recovery and ensuring energy transition to protect jobs in the North-east will be at heart of SNP’s priorities locally.”
“The £31million is very welcome but we’d be light years ahead of where we are now and our global competitors if the UK Government hadn’t pulled funding of a much larger magnitude from the Carbon Capture and Storage project all those years ago. It just goes to prove that the UK Government always turns up too late for Scotland.
“Scotland can and should be at the forefront of energy technology - that’s what will secure jobs and investment in our region. We need to take powers into our own hands with independence to make Scotland a global leader in energy and protect jobs in our region. A net zero, a greener recovery and ensuring energy transition to protect jobs in the North-east will be at heart of SNP’s priorities locally.”
Former Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson added:
“The Scottish Government’s £62 million Energy Transition Fund announced in June will support businesses in the oil, gas and energy sectors as they grow and diversify and will help attract private sector investment in the region.
“The investment, with a focus on the North-east, underpins our region’s ambitions to become a world leader in the transition to net zero, helping Scotland meet its ambitious targets on climate change.
“Major projects to be considered for funding include a Global Underwater Hub, Net Zero Solution Centre projects, a Hydrogen Hub, the Acorn project and an Energy Transition Zone.”
“The investment, with a focus on the North-east, underpins our region’s ambitions to become a world leader in the transition to net zero, helping Scotland meet its ambitious targets on climate change.
“Major projects to be considered for funding include a Global Underwater Hub, Net Zero Solution Centre projects, a Hydrogen Hub, the Acorn project and an Energy Transition Zone.”
