Energy policy of Scotland
Encyclopedia
Energy policy
in Scotland
is a matter that has been specifically reserved
to the UK parliament under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998
that created the devolved
Scottish Parliament
. However, since planning
is a matter that has been devolved, the Scottish government has the ability to shape the direction of energy generation in Scotland
by approving or refusing new projects.
In 2004, the Enterprise Committee of the Scottish Parliament called for the development of a 'fully fledged' Scottish energy policy.
The SNP Government
that took power in May 2007 specifically included the word 'energy' in a portfolio title when the junior ministerial position of Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
was created to replace the position of 'Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
'.
as a whole is heading towards becoming a net importer.
(SNP) and others made clear their view that Scotland did not need new nuclear power stations. By January 2008, when the UK Government gave the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built across the UK, the SNP formed the Scottish Government and First Minister
Alex Salmond
made clear there was "no chance" of more nuclear power stations being built in Scotland
. The Government's stance was backed by the Scottish Parliament
which voted 63-58 to support the Scottish Government's policy of opposing new nuclear power stations.
Energy policy
Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
is a matter that has been specifically reserved
Reserved matters
In the United Kingdom reserved matters and excepted matters are the areas of government policy where Parliament had kept the power to make laws in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales....
to the UK parliament under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998
The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament.The Act will be amended by the Scotland Bill 2011, if and when it receives royal assent.-History:...
that created the devolved
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
. However, since planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
is a matter that has been devolved, the Scottish government has the ability to shape the direction of energy generation in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
by approving or refusing new projects.
In 2004, the Enterprise Committee of the Scottish Parliament called for the development of a 'fully fledged' Scottish energy policy.
The SNP Government
Government of the 3rd Scottish Parliament
The Government of the 3rd Scottish Parliament was formed after the 2007 elections to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government is headed by First Minister Alex Salmond.- First Salmond government :...
that took power in May 2007 specifically included the word 'energy' in a portfolio title when the junior ministerial position of Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism is a Junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet...
was created to replace the position of 'Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning was a cabinet position in the Scottish Executive. The position was first created in the 1999 as part of the Dewar government and continued into the McLeish cabinet. Following the election of Jack McConnell as First Minister in 2001 transportation...
'.
Overview
Scotland has a mix of energy sources and is a net exporter of energy at a time when the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a whole is heading towards becoming a net importer.
Renewable energy in Scotland
In 2003, the then Scottish Executive set a target of Scotland producing 40% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Since then this target has been increased to 80%.Nuclear power
When the UK Government announced an energy review in early 2006, the Scottish National PartyScottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) and others made clear their view that Scotland did not need new nuclear power stations. By January 2008, when the UK Government gave the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built across the UK, the SNP formed the Scottish Government and First Minister
First Minister
A First Minister is the leader of a government cabinet.-Canada:In Canada, "First Ministers" is a collective term that refers to all Canadian first ministers of the Crown, otherwise known as heads of government, including the Prime Minister of Canada and the provincial and territorial premiers...
Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
made clear there was "no chance" of more nuclear power stations being built in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The Government's stance was backed by the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
which voted 63-58 to support the Scottish Government's policy of opposing new nuclear power stations.
External links
- scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy
- Determining and delivering on Scotland's energy future, Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee Report 2009
- Scottish Government Energy Policy Overview September 2008
- Scotland's Energy Future: Policy scdi.org.uk
- Energy Action Scotland
- Energy Policy For Europe
- Enterprise Committee Calls for Fully-Fledged Scottish Energy Policy