North East Lib Dems back Scottish Renewables and OEUK letter

Responding to the joint letter to Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) and Scottish Renewables calling for the Energy Profits Levy to be replaced urgently and the UK Government to provide more funding for offshore wind, Scottish Liberal Democrat North East list candidate and energy industry worker Michael Turvey said:

"This is a landmark letter. It shows that the offshore industry understands that renewables and oil and gas can complement one another.

“We are going to need oil and gas for the foreseeable future and it is better to support production here than rely on imports of LNG from abroad which are much more polluting.

“The windfall tax on oil and gas profits was supposed to be temporary, but it has dragged on and frequent changes have led to investors are walking away.

“Likewise Scotland’s vast renewable energy potential can put us at the forefront of a green industrial revolution. I would like to see turbine blade makers and cable manufacturing yards setting up in the North East to build the substructures for offshore wind facilities.

“Liberal Democrats are calling for the replacement of the windfall tax on oil and gas profits and a serious industrial strategy to deliver continued investment in the North East and support the families and communities that power our country.

“How the UK and Scottish Governments treat one long-term strategic industry affects trust in all industries where long term investments are required.  Renewables investors will be looking at the capricious behaviour towards oil and gas companies and thinking ‘that could be us in ten years time’ .”