Western Isles MSP hits out at discriminatory” transmission charges

Western Isles SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today hit out at “discriminatory” transmission charges which are higher for energy projects in the Highlands and Islands than they are in the South of England.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“Last week at the first meeting of the Outer Hebrides Renewables Group, I, along with a number of others, made the argument to the National Grid that their transmission charging policy was wrong, as it penalises community groups in the Western Isles. We are being charged to export energy to the National Grid, whereas in the Southeast of England and London they are subsidised to produce energy – this cannot be fair.

“Renewable schemes.”

“This is despite so much emphasis being placed now on renewable energy, the sites for which are in remoter areas where the potential for wind and wave power are much greater. With community renewable energy schemes being developed in the Western Isles, and particularly with the announcement a few days ago that six community wind farms are to be hooked up to the national grid in the next year, this charging anomaly needs to get sorted to stop the Western Isles getting ripped off.

“There should be a universal charge rate that allows renewable energy in the Highlands and Islands to compete on an equal footing with those elsewhere and to encourage communities to invest in renewable schemes.”

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