This response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the future of energy in Scotland calls for a publicly owned energy company to generate and deliver energy to the people of Scotland.

― Common Weal strongly disagrees with the proposal to end export and generation tariffs for renewable energy on 31st March 2019.

― Doing so will be irrevocably harmful to the renewable industry with the solar industry likely to be badly affected.

― It will slow progress on carbon emission reduction, particularly in England.

― Eliminating the tariffs will not significantly reduce energy costs for consumers who don’t directly benefit from them – research has shown they only contribute to bills by approximately £1 per household per year.

A call for the Scottish Government to launch a National Energy Company and a Scottish Energy Development Agency.  These bodies would work together to rapidly and strategically decarbonise Scotland’s energy network whilst also supporting community energy projects and developing the new skills and technologies Scotland – and the world – will need to face the challenges of climate change and fuel poverty.