Letter: Energy strategy

THE RECENT articles by Bill Jamieson and Lesley Riddoch concerning renewable energy in Scotland highlight significant concerns on both sides of the debate.

However, there are more significant implications from an unco-ordinated approach to delivering renewable energy than merely costs and visual impact, such as increased carbon emissions from peat disturbance, the negative impact to important habitats and species, and the potential implications for human health and well-being from poorly sited facilities.

The shift from conventional power generation to cleaner, renewable energy technologies must not come at the expense of Scotland’s wild land. Clearly we need to achieve the mandated targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions while, at the same time, protecting the landscapes and habitats that Scotland is renowned for.

Tackling climate change is the long game that we cannot afford to lose. This is why the John Muir Trust has been calling for a national energy strategy, to consider future generation requirements from sustainable sources, but also to consider the critical role that both energy conservation and energy efficiency have to play in reducing the amount of energy we use.

There is no doubt we can leave future generations of Scotland with both clean energy and a healthy, functioning environment. But we cannot afford to be distracted by short-term solutions or poorly conceived policies that will result in further damage, either to society or the wider environment we are supposedly trying to protect.

Helen McDade

John Muir Trust

Station Road

Pitlochry