Project TransmiT

That the Parliament opposes the current locational charging approach, which levies the highest charges on electricity generators across Scotland, including the areas of the best renewable energy resource, and acts as a barrier to renewable projects that can benefit local communities and contribute to Scottish, UK and EU renewable energy and carbon-reduction targets; continues to support the Scottish Government’s call for significant change to the existing charging regime, recognising that there remain strong arguments for change to a flat rate of charging for all generators; recognises and supports Project TransmiT, the independent review of transmission charging by Ofgem called for by the Parliament in April 2010; supports a transparent, thorough and effective assessment for improvements in the charging regime; welcomes the emerging outcomes for both renewable and conventional generators on the mainland, which will move away from the current status-quo approach by reducing the scale of the variance in charges currently faced by generators in mainland Scotland; urges Ofgem to deliver effective change quickly; supports calls for Ofgem to deliver a pricing structure that does not penalise the development of renewable energy in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, and further urges Ofgem to recognise that the significant renewable energy resources of these island groups have potential benefits for both Scottish and UK consumers that will be best met by their integration with the wider GB market.