LONDON, December 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite, the UK's biggest union has criticised the Scottish Government's policy proposals for Scotland's energy future in a response to the consultation, 'Making Scotland a Leader for Green Energy'.
In the same week that the Scottish Government launched a GBP10 million 'Saltire Prize' for innovation in renewable marine energy, Scotland's largest trade union believes that Alex Salmond has a blinkered outlook on how to deliver Scotland's energy future and a workforce that can develop and sustain it.
John Quigley, Unite Scottish Secretary said: We believe a balanced energy strategy - incorporating clean coal, nuclear, oil, gas, and renewable sources - is vital to ensuring security of supply, greater price stability and the transition towards a low carbon economy.
The Scottish Government's ambitious target for total energy supply of 31% by 2011 and 50% by 2020 from renewable sources seems even more far-fetched when their own Finance Secretary publicly states that emergent renewable sources such as wave and tidal power will not be commercially viable for up to a decade.
Scotland can't wait that long. To achieve ambitious carbon emission reduction targets of 80% by 2050 it is essential that more support is directed towards established, viable energy sources to stop the lights from going out.
Unite has also expressed concerns about how the Scottish Government intend to bring their renewable energy plans on-line. The consultation stated that Scotland may have to 'actively target overseas people to fill the required skills gaps'. However, with recent trends suggesting skilled migrants are returning to their home countries amid improving terms and conditions in Eastern Europe and as the economic slowdown bites in the UK, Unite believes this strategy will pose problems.
Mr Quigley added, Labour market trends with regards to migrant workers are changing. The Scottish Government should take this opportunity to invest in and nurture a skilled, sustainable workforce from the vast reservoir of untapped talent in Scotland to meet the major industrial challenges of the 21st century.
The issue of skills in the wider economy, but in particular in the energy sector, is one which the Scottish Government must address with urgency and with the same fervour as they apply to other areas of the energy sector.
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