YOUR VIEWS: ‘Serious concerns about the competence of those overseeing Scotland’s transition to renewable energy’
Renewable energy planning ‘out of control’
The Scottish Government ministers responsible for renewable energy have been exposed for their failure to maintain a database on the number and type of renewable energy projects across Scotland. Shockingly, they do not even consider it their responsibility to do so. This negligence raises serious concerns about the competence of those overseeing Scotland’s transition to renewable energy.
Despite the significant impact that renewable energy projects have on communities, the environment and the economy there is no centralised, accessible source of information available to the public. The lack of transparency and easily accessible data means that concerned citizens, local authorities and other stakeholders are left in the dark about the scale and nature of these developments.
Worryingly, Scotland’s renewable energy planning system appears to be spiraling out of control. There is no effective financial oversight, no safeguards against potential abuse, and no clear coordination between national and local governments regarding the necessity and sustainability of renewable energy projects. Without proper management, the development of renewables is being driven not by the urgent need to combat climate change or provide affordable and reliable energy but by the financial interests of energy companies.
This chaotic approach has resulted in an alarming lack of accountability at both local and national levels. The absence of clear political responsibility means that key decisions regarding renewable energy projects are being made without due diligence, public scrutiny, or consideration for long-term energy security and affordability.
A recent request for Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosures highlights the extent of this failure. When asked to provide comprehensive data on planning applications — both granted and pending — across various renewable energy projects, including offshore and onshore wind farms, underground and undersea transmission lines, battery storage farms, hydro storage projects and associated infrastructure within the Highlands and Islands region, the government could not provide a full or even partial response. This raises serious questions: Why is this information not available? Who is responsible for ensuring proper oversight?
Scotland’s renewable energy sector should be managed with transparency, accountability and a commitment to both environmental goals and public needs. If the Scottish Government cannot provide clear, comprehensive data on the sector’s development, then who can? We challenge government ministers to respond to this urgent issue — if they cannot, the public deserves to know why.
Dunbeath and Berriedale Community Say NO to PYLONS Action Group.
Thanks for quality of NHS care
I would like to thank Wick A&E NHS staff for the outstanding treatment I received when admitted at 2am on Saturday, April 12 with a serious chest infection.
Once stabilised through their excellent care I was moved by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital, where I remained for six days.
The frontline line care in Caithness General Hospital A&E and ward 7A at Raigmore was absolutely exceptional.
If the rest of the population did half the work of those in the NHS, our country would be in a much better place.
Thank you to everyone for their efforts.
Top stories
Robert Coghill
Watten
Do you know the name of the poet?
I would like to find out the identity of the person who wrote Caithness dialect verse under the pen name “Sinclair Bay”.
Judging from the content of the poems, the author possibly came from the Freswick area. One of the poems is called ’E Ould Box Bed and another mentions the closure of Freswick school and the bussing of bairns to Canisbay, an event that dates to the summer of 1948.
James Miller
A2 Caravan Park
Bunchrew
Inverness
Better flights options would be appreciated
I second the pleas for wider use to be made of Wick Airport, especially for Loganair flights to Orkney and beyond. It’s really miserable that we have to go south to go north to Scandinavia (Norway - Bergen, Sweden and Denmark) and further afield the Baltic, Faroes, Iceland and Greenland await us - if only!
The increasing older population has time on its hands and, with care, savings to spend instead of waiting for government to help itself, so instead of second-homes, timeshare, winters spent in the Mediterranean or in UK hotels to avoid rising heating costs, easier access to what’s on our doorstep would make lives worth living.
Helen J Rand
Murkle View
Thurso