Boyack warns delay in cutting red tape puts green jobs at risk

Published on Wednesday 15 July 2009 10:09

LABOUR'S former environment minister Sarah Boyack has warned the Scottish Government a delay in cutting planning "red tape" for mini-wind turbines and air-source heat pumps will result in green job losses.

Ms Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, spoke out as she visited the Mitsubishi electric heat pump factory in Livingston, which makes air-source heat pumps.

Household renewable energy devices such as solar panels and biomass boilers no longer need council planning permission, but the Scottish Government have said they will conduct a study on whether the rules should be extended to wind turbines and air-source heat pumps.

Ms Boyack said: "After having forced the Scottish Government to cut planning red tape for solar panels and biomass boilers we are still waiting for them to open up the same process for two key technologies to help bring people's energy bills down and reduce Scotland's emissions.

"Hundreds of jobs are reliant on the micro-generation industry in Scotland. Every hurdle to growth puts these jobs in jeopardy."