The Scottish Conservatives have promised to give local councils the ability to veto onshore wind farms as an asset class under policies outlined in the party’s manifesto for the upcoming Holyrood elections.
The document, launched today, says that “if councils what to put a wind farm moratorium in place, they should be allowed to do so”.
The party said similar moves imposed by the current Scottish National Party government on the fracking sector had set a precedent.
It also said, as part of plans to “restore local accountability”, that planning appeals should be decided by full councils rather than by Scottish ministers.
The Conservatives promised ongoing support for “sunrise technologies” without “an overt reliance on one type of generation”.
The party also supports increased energy storage and said this should take place “alongside a review of planning system provisions for repowering existing onshore wind farms coming to the end of their lifetimes”.
It said renewables policy should extend beyond the current focus on the electricity sector and into heat, especially district heating.
Image: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party leader Ruth Davidson (Scottish Conservatives)
Tories promise Scots wind veto
Holyrood manifesto also calls for increased energy storage, green heat
By EBS