Scotland Needs a Balanced Energy Policy

That the Parliament welcomes the strength of Scotland's energy sector; acknowledges the vibrancy of the oil and gas industry, which is underpinned by a favourable UK tax regime; recognises the potential of offshore renewables; welcomes the recent decision by the Department of Energy and Climate Change to shortlist the Peterhead Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project to progress to the next stage of the UK Government’s CCS commercialisation competition funding, with a final investment decision to be taken in 2015; appreciates concern from consumers and businesses regarding the rising cost of energy impacting on household budgets and economic growth; understands that the volume of onshore wind farm planning applications is causing concern for many across Scotland; calls on the Scottish Government to end its fixation with onshore wind as an energy source to the exclusion of other more efficient technologies, and further urges it to develop a balanced energy policy, based on the principles of affordability, security of supply and increasing decarbonisation, which draws energy from a mix of sources.