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Fergus Ewing: Snubbing Inverness for GB Energy HQ ‘not only unfair but illogical’ as the ‘the Green freeport is located in the Highlands’





The freeport it is hoped will bring many thousands of jobs to the Highlands and be at the centre of the renewables revolution.
The freeport it is hoped will bring many thousands of jobs to the Highlands and be at the centre of the renewables revolution.

Despite reports last week that Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are all on the short list to host the HQ of GB Energy there has been no official announcement from the UK government.

Two Highland MSPs have said they are unhappy that Inverness – backed by the local chamber of commerce – is not further up the pecking order given the location of the Highland freeport.

The decision will be made by Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero but as the Times reported last week Scotland’s three largest cities are understood to be on the shortlist – leaving Inverness out in the cold.

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The SNP Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing labelled the news that “if Inverness is snubbed by the new Labour Government that would be not only unfair but illogical” entailing travel from elsewhere to the north.

Labour Highland MSP Rhoda Grant went easier on the government saying she had written to Westminster colleagues putting the case for the north but that regardless the north would enjoy a “bright future” through renewables.

Mr Ewing said he will now write to the Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray “to seek an urgent meeting” to discuss the location, the criteria that will govern the final choice adding: “Any rational set of criteria would surely locate the new body where the bulk of the developments will take place.”

“The new body GB Energy is to be set up to promote renewable energy and investment in renewables,” he said. “The Highlands and Islands will see most of the renewable developments and industry over the four or five decades.

“As such, Inverness is at the epicentre of the renewable industry. The Green Free port is located in the Highlands. HIE the Council and the Chamber of Commerce have all combined to support Inverness as GB Energy HQ.

“If Inverness is snubbed by the new Labour Government that would be not only unfair but illogical. And what would happen is an endless amount of travel – up and down the (un-dualled) A9.

“Therefore, I am writing to the new Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP to seek an urgent meeting to discuss the location of the new body and the criteria that will govern the choice of location. Any rational set of criteria would surely locate the new body where the bulk of the developments will take place.

“As well as the jobs being created in the Cromarty and Moray Firth area, we have many of the proposed new developments in wind, pump storage hydro and tidal energy. We have grid works proposed of an eye-watering £45 billion. We are closest to a great many of the offshore wind farms. We have a solid base of industry supply chain on which to base and build.

“With due respect to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, they each possess far fewer of these attributes.

“To exclude Inverness from the running would be a grave error by the New Government. I want to work seriously with them. They have a mandate. But policies taken for political reasons often go awry. Any rational person seeking to locate a new body which will be vital for the development of arguably our major new industry in Scotland would choose Inverness.

“I will put that case as vigorously as possible and will work with any colleagues in Holyrood or Westminster as well as the local council HIE and Chamber to that end.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Mrs Grant said: “I would be disappointed if the Highlands and Islands missed out on hosting the GB Energy headquarters.

“In my letter to Westminster colleagues, I made it clear that the Highlands and Islands are the centre for renewable, clean energy and that we will remain that way for decades to come.

“Regardless, the Highlands and Islands still have a bright future ahead in clean renewable energy. If the Highlands and Islands miss out, Aberdeen would also provide a viable option for GB Energy.

“Not only does it have close connections to Shetland and our Northern Isles, and indeed the rest of the Highlands and Islands, but the city is dependent on oil and gas and this would help them transition.”


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