Powerpolitics

The smokescreen over Brexit hides the prevarication at Holyrood over selecting from one of two incompatible policies.

The first policy, proposed by the Environment Secretary, is to achieve zero emissions by the middle of the century. The shutdown of Longannet Power Station means that the current50twhourofdemandfor electricity is largely met from renewable sources, although there is a £1 billion increase in costs for Scottish consumers to meet the green levy, installation of smart meters and constraint payments.

However, the next stage is to phase out gas, but this carries an annual price hike of £18bn plus the £120bn capital cost of renewable plant to replace gas. As the Scottish economy cannot afford such bills the policy depends on maintaining strong links with RUK to ensure 92 per cent of the costs are met by English consumers.

The second policy is the drive for Indyref2 championed by the co-convener of the Scottish Greens. However, Andrew Wilson, who forecast that such a result would entail a decade of austerity for Scots, did not address the economic impact resulting from the demise of the UK grid.

The only way to mitigate such costs would require Holyrood to issue licences for fracking to provide cheap energy to Scottish consumers.

If MSPS fail to select one of the options then it will be left to voters in 2021 to choose between zero emissions plus remaining with RUK or Indyref2 in conjuction with fracking.

As the large Scottish energy firms have divested away from fossil fuels,it appears that Scottish business assumes climate concerns will trump shale gas.

IAN MOIR Queen Street, Castle Douglas