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By a Newsnet reporter
 
The strength of Scotland’s renewables sector and investment in Scotland’s wind and wave energy potential has been reaffirmed with the publication of a report by Scottish Renewables showing the sector supports the equivalent of 11,000 full-time jobs in Scotland.
 
The figures were collated before global renewables firm Gamesa’s announcement that they will create upwards of 800 new jobs at the Port of Leith as well as bringing €150 million of investment in the Scottish economy.

The news severely undermines claims by Tory leader David Cameron who at his party’s conference in Troon claimed uncertainty caused by the independence referendum was harming Scottish investment.

Welcoming the further evidence of the strength of Scotland’s renewables sector Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi said they showed an industry in ascendency.

The SNP MSP claimed the investment coupled with the jobs totals underscored the strength of Scotland’s renewable energy sector and proved that Tory and other anti-independence scaremongering on renewables are completely discredited.

Mr Biagi said:

“This report is to be welcomed and demonstrates how Scotland’s renewable industry is bringing jobs and investment to communities across the nation.

“Given Scotland’s vast renewables resources, with a quarter of Europe’s tidal and offshore wind power and 10% of its wave power, as well as an excellent track record in the energy industries, this country is perfectly placed to benefit from the global shift to renewables.

“We are already seeing the benefit of renewables in Scotland with thousands of jobs, most recently Gamesa’s announcement of 800 jobs and €150 million of investment here in Edinburgh. That announcement came on top of a recent report showing that there has been a massive £750 million investment in Scotland’s renewables industry over the past year and a further £46 billion in the pipeline.

“This is good news for Scotland and an embarrassment for the Tories. These investments are bringing yet more jobs to Scotland and is another blow to the Tories’ Murdo Fraser who used the Tory Conference in Troon as a platform to try and claim renewable energy isn’t working. If it was up to the Conservatives none of these jobs would be coming to Scotland.”

The study ‘Delivering the Ambition: employment in renewable energy in Scotland’, which will be launched at the Scottish Renewables Annual Conference in Edinburgh today, is the first comprehensive assessment of full-time equivalent posts in Scotland to date.

Having surveyed more than 200 companies working across a variety of renewable technologies including wind, wave and tidal, bioenergy, solar and hydropower the results show 1,526 employees in renewable energy development , and a further 8,701 employed in the direct supply chain.  In addition, there are 909 jobs in academia and the wider public sector.

Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:

“The report shows that renewables are not only a major part of our energy mix, they are now a major part of our economy and our daily working day lives, supporting more than 11,000 jobs across Scotland.

“The report also highlights that for every job in renewable energy development, there are around six more in the direct supply chain.

“These numbers are actually just the tip of the iceberg, with many thousands more employees supported indirectly by the growth of the renewables sector which have not been captured by this study.”

Mr Stuart added: “Renewable energy development is bringing in much-needed investment to the wider economy, which is providing opportunities for businesses and people from a wide range of sectors; whether it be electricians, tradesmen, and skippers of work boats, or lawyers, consultants, civil engineers and architects.

“These jobs are spread throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas:  Glasgow, Fife and Edinburgh are already established as important centres for offshore wind development; Aberdeen is a major centre for offshore engineering; the Highlands and Islands are leading the development of the emerging wave and tidal sector; and bioenergy is providing jobs across rural Scotland from Lochaber to Morayshire to Dumfries and Galloway.”

The report also states that with more than 20 gigawatts (GW) of projects in development in Scotland, the sector has the potential to grow quickly over coming years, creating even more opportunities for employment across the country, and making a major contribution to tackling youth unemployment.


Comments  

 
#
clootie
2012-03-27 07:24

The BBC managed to make this a negative this morning – or maybe it’s just me?
 
 
#
Macart
2012-03-27 08:13

Its not the worst twist we’ve seen from a beeb story, just a dark hint that it all hinges on continued political support. As if the SG are going to pull a 180 on that one anytime soon. 🙂
 
 
#
Sleekit
2012-03-27 08:21

No, you are right.

It’s the use of the word “Claim” in their headline and tag that are subtly suggesting that its not really the case.

bbc.co.uk/…/…

Its an attempt to reduce the impact of good news they cannot spin in a negative way.

Similar thing happened the other day in the Scotsman regarding the “Edinburgh gives more to the UK per person than anywhere else” story.

They couldnt bury it so they wheeled out Professor Bell to put a dampener on it so that they could limit the good news.

scotsman.com/…/…
 
 
#
nottooweeorstupid
2012-03-27 16:35

O/T but can anyone else ever make sense of the Scotsman comments? What’s all this – – – – – – – – – – stuff about? Quite apart from the usual content, it fair puts me off reading.- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
 
 
#
Thee Forsaken One
2012-03-27 16:37

The comments section in the Scotsman doesn’t allow linebreaks and cuts off trailing spaces so the only way to break up text into paragraphs is to put in lots of dashes.
 

 
#
nottooweeorstupid
2012-03-27 10:22

Nope Clootie, they did. Great word, ‘claim’. Nearly as useful as ‘defends.’
 
 
#
Macart
2012-03-27 11:11

On the bright side, it must have really hurt the beeb to present anything approaching a positive story. 😀
 

 
#
Islegard
2012-03-27 08:16

O/T Just to keep you updated yet even more Lards amendments:-

publications.parliament.uk/…/…

I know there is an “agreement” unfortunately know one has told the Lards apparently.

On another O/T regarding the unelected jellies. It’s estimated the number of snouts in the upper house’s trough is going to exceed a thousand. The information was in a story in the comic the Daily Mail:-

dailymail.co.uk/…/…
 
 
#
xyz
2012-03-27 13:25

Good work Islegard, stay on the case. They really are beneath contempt, but a good illustration of the wastefulness of Westminster.
 

 
#
From The Suburbs
2012-03-27 08:31

O/T on BBC Radio Scotland Newsdrive yesterday afternoon their (RuK) political correspondent stated unchallenged that ALL political parties were affected by donations scandals.
 
 
#
snowthistle
2012-03-27 08:43

I suppose some may say that Brian Souter’s involvement with the SNP is scandalous.
 
 
#
Islegard
2012-03-27 09:10

What “involvement”.
 
 
#
balbeggie
2012-03-27 10:36

A lot of pensioners I suspect give a higher proportion of their annual income to the SNP as a donation than what Mr Souter does and they may do a bit of leafletting and canvassing too.
 
 
#
Islegard
2012-03-27 10:45

Someone legally donating money openly is “scandalous”!
 

 
#
snowthistle
2012-03-27 12:39

Some saw the dropping of the policy to re-regulate bus travel soon after he had given a large donation, as suspicious
 

 
#
scottish_skier
2012-03-27 10:54

If I had his cash, I’d give it to the independence cause too. It seems the media did not consider his strong support for independence particularly in their reporting of his donations.
 

 
#
Legerwood
2012-03-27 17:11

Quote:

From The Suburbs 2012-03-27 07:31
O/T on BBC Radio Scotland Newsdrive yesterday afternoon their (RuK) political correspondent stated unchallenged that ALL political parties were affected by donations scandals.



Yesterday’s on-line edition of the Herald had a story about Cameron’s dinner party problems. One of the comments on the article, clearly trying to tar the SNP with the same brush had the comment about the £1 million left to the SNP by the poet and asked: ‘What was he wanting in return for his money?’

I think he was probably the one donor about whom you could say with some certainty did not want anything in return. Unlike some fo the fat cats bankrolling the Conservatives.

 

 
#
balbeggie
2012-03-27 10:30

Joan McAlpine’s weekly column

blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/…/…
 
 
#
mato21
2012-03-27 10:53

Scotlands food and drink exports reach 10 year target set in 2007 6years early


scotlandfoodanddrink.org/…/…
 
 
#
Islegard
2012-03-27 11:20

That’s great about imports. However I’d like to see the SNP tackle supermarket sourcing. The large supermarket chains should be promoting Scottish produce first and foremost and in particular try to source locally. I would prefer to buy Scottish produce and help local farmers. However most of the produce in the large supermarkets is “british”. Why should my money be gong to help some farmer on the south coast of England for example when I could be supporting Scottish produce and my local farmers.
 
 
#
mato21
2012-03-27 11:26

Isle

Sorry it’s exports not imports
 
 
#
Islegard
2012-03-27 11:42

Sorry realised that! Typo!
 

 
#
scottish_skier
2012-03-27 11:27

The Local Tesco and Asda in Galashiels have gone all out Scottish. Saltires everywhere, from the facade to on every product possible.

mw2.google.com/…/…
 
 
#
Islegard
2012-03-27 11:48

That’s great not so my area. Morrisons is the worst offender.
 

 
#
scottish_skier
2012-03-27 11:25

snp.org/…/…

huffingtonpost.co.uk/…/…

Speaking at the start of four days of Budget debate in the Commons last Thursday, Balls said: “There will be a vote next week, we will vote against the 50p. It’s the wrong tax cut at the wrong time.”

But when SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs forced a surprise late-night vote on the proposed new income tax rates on Monday night, no more than a couple of Labour MPs were among the 22 registering their opposition.”


Red ties looking rather purple.
 
 
#
Dundonian West
2012-03-27 11:41

O/T Winnie Ewing.Stop The World.Autobiography.
Read it over the weekend.
To all the waverers out there—-read this book,and you’ll never again doubt the absolute necessity for Scottish independence.
ON topic—Winnie recalls the ongoing campaign against her,sometimes personally,by the Scottish media.
Nothing changes,does it?

Read it,and you’ll never look back.
An easy read.
 
 
#
Roll_On_2011
2012-03-27 12:28

OT

Just read on ceefax:

A strong performance by the whisky industry helped push Scottish food & drink exports to an all-time high last year.

According to official figures, £5.4bn worth of food and drink products were exported in 2011, surpassing industry targets 6 years ahead of schedule.

Whisky exports broke new records, increasing in value by 23% to £4.23m.

Scotlands top food and drink export markets were France and and the US, with strong growth in Singapore and China.

[EDIT]

Whisky growth pushes Scots food and drink exports to record high:

bbc.co.uk/…/…
 
 
#
sneckedagain
2012-03-27 12:34

O/T supplement
The vile treatment of Winnie Ewing by Labour in particular started the night she won at Hamilton. I was a counting agent that night but even the eve of poll meeting in Hamilton Town Hall was disrupted by boorish Labour behaviour. Jim Sillars had been in town that day (as a Labour man) and told them they were loosing. We were very hopeful but they had no idea. They thought they’d walk it as usual and didn’t do the work. The saddest thing was that Winnie lost Hamilton at the next General Election because the SNP left Hamilton SNP on its own to hold the seat while Labour poured in half of its Scottish operation into getting Hamilton back.
 
 
#
Dundonian West
2012-03-27 12:57

“You Were There”. Wow!

If they could only take a couple of steps back,and take a long hard look at themselves.However they are incapable of that.
Power,for the sake of power—-and we all know where that leads.
Yes,Labour haven’t changed since Hamilton.
Behaving like a child,whose sweets have been pinched.
 
 
#
SEUMAS31
2012-03-27 13:01

Not a mention on the Scottish t.v. news ar six last night, but an attempt by the usual philistines on G.M.S. this morning to rubbish Alec Salmond’s positive message on jobs in renewables, same old.
 
 
#
Dundonian West
2012-03-27 13:12

Scottish Labour have always had an easy ride from their media friends.
I don’t anymore,know what Labour stands for in this emerging new Scotland.

Blue Torys?
They are unionists.
New Labour,and Leader millionnaire Milliband.
Not for me thankyou very much.
 
 
#
Marga B
2012-03-27 14:12

It is extremely strange to see this same bitter, narrow suicidal behaviour replicated by socialist parties in other countries.

What will happen if Hollande gets in in France? Will they start engaging with the real world again, or keep trying to get back where they were, which no longer exists?
 
 
#
scottish_skier
2012-03-27 14:30

My wife is French. She suspects Hollande will oust Sarkozy.

reuters.com/…/…

However, France is still nowhere near as ‘right’ as the UK, with their conservatives being more like UK New Labour but less authoritarian. For now anyway.

www.politicalcompass.org/…/
 
 
#
Marga B
2012-03-27 14:54

Looking forward to the French elections with great interest, Skier. It seems that “France is different”!
 

 
#
Sleekit
2012-03-27 15:13

OT

Greenslade Blog over on the Guardian is detailing the lengths they go to to inform the public with investigative journalism coming up against the law.

guardian.co.uk/…/…

Getting modded off for asking that they apply the same journalistic integrity to the the Scottish Referendum Debate and question the stories put out by Unionists.

Looks like poster 2 suffered the same fate.

Anyone else want to sign in and point this out to them also????
 
 
#
Bob Duncan
2012-03-27 16:33

I just added the following comment:
Interesting article.

Can we assume, then, that the same high standards of journalistic integrity will be applied to the Scottish Independence debate, particularly when ourtrageous scaremongering stories are peddled by Unionist sources?

The filter on these stories seems to have been set very loosely indeed by most UK print media

under the name BigBoab

let’s see if it lasts…
 
 
#
Sleekit
2012-03-27 18:45

Cheers BigBoab.

If they take yours down then we will need to get someone else to put one up!

🙂
 

 
#
Mark
2012-03-27 17:22

The third post has been left on.
The following is a copy of it:

Quote:

Can we assume, then, that the same high standards of journalistic integrity will be applied to the Scottish Independence debate, particularly when ourtrageous scaremongering stories are peddled by Unionist sources?

The filter on these stories seems to have been set very loosely indeed by most UK print media

 

 
#
Taighnamona
2012-03-27 17:17

I’m so sorry for going off topic and to the Daily Mail of all places… but you just cannot miss this article about Donald Trump…the video clip I shall be storing for posterity.

dailymail.co.uk/…/…
 
 
#
Sleekit
2012-03-27 18:50

For those who do not want to sully themselves by visiting such a site…

Donald Trump Does Bohemian Rhapsody

bellacaledonia.org.uk/…/…
 
 
#
Taighnamona
2012-03-27 19:39

Thanks…wish I’d found that site first.
 
 
#
Marga B
2012-03-27 23:12

Flatters him a bit, don’t you think?
 

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