Wind farms ‘essential’ for energy needs

THE chairman of ice-cream and crisps manufacturer Mackies has warned MSPs that the “lights will go out” for Scotland’s electricity supply unless there is a drive towards renewable energy.

Maitland Mackie, speaking at the Scottish Parliament’s economy and energy committee yesterday, said energy bills will “undoubtedly” keep rising unless there is an expansion of wind farms.

Dr Mackie went on to say that Scotland was running out of fossil fuels as he called on MSPs to focus on renewable energy rather than nuclear power.

The businessman has been running three mid-sized turbines on his dairy farm in Aberdeenshire for almost five years.