Dear {name}

Scotland is one of the most energy-rich nations in Europe. Our wind, our waters and our skilled workforce are powering homes across these islands. Yet right now, Westminster is holding Scotland back.

Industry leaders are sounding the alarm. Calum MacPherson of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Freeport has warned that every month of delay to projects in Scottish waters damages investor confidence. He posed a simple challenge: if projects in the south of England were being penalised in the same way, would Westminster tolerate delay until 2029? Of course it wouldn’t.

Under the UK Government’s transmission charging regime, renewable projects in Scotland face some of the highest grid connection charges in Europe. Meanwhile, generators in the south of England are effectively paid to connect to the very same so-called “national grid”. That is not a fair system - it is a structural bias against Scotland.

We are already seeing the damage. The 2GW West of Orkney wind farm has been paused because excessive transmission costs have made it uncompetitive. At Moray East, grid charges are forecast to quadruple by 2029. That threatens jobs, investment and future expansion in communities that should be benefiting from our natural advantage.

With independence, we can take control of our own Scot Grid. By designing a system that works for Scotland, we can cut household and business electricity bills by around a third, keep more value here at home, and give our renewables sector the certainty it needs. We can also establish a right to community ownership in renewable projects, ensuring local people share directly in the wealth generated on their doorstep.

Scotland’s energy should be in Scotland’s hands. The longer Westminster controls it, the longer our potential is squandered.

Yours for Scotland,

Martyn Day

SNP Candidate for Falkirk East and Linlithgow

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