23 Sept 2025
Scotland badly needs an energy policy because politicians have no idea how much wind energy is enough, and how much is too much, leaving communities feeling “swamped and overwhelmed,” says the former Rural Economy secretary Fergus Ewing MSP.
Speaking at the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, the now independent MSP for Inverness and Nairn said that without an energy policy it was “like trying to wrap a Christmas present without having enough paper. It is impossible to know what’s needed for “a properly balanced grid, including an analysis of the baseload and back-up that are required,” said Mr Ewing.
“You simply cannot function when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. Storage is hopelessly inadequate. The interconnector failed and there was nearly a blackout in Britain on 8 January. The situation is parlous," he said.
“There is no energy policy in Scotland. The questions of how much wind energy is enough and how much is too much scarcely ever seem to be asked in this place.”
To answer those questions, the committee will invite the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin to address them. The committee is considering a petition from Ms Aileen Jackson on behalf of Scotland Against Spin which calls for increased ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore wind farms by adopting English planning legislation for the determination of onshore wind farm developments.
The petition also wants local authorities empowered to ensure communities are given sufficient professional help to engage in the planning process, and independent advocates are appointed to ensure local participants are not bullied and intimidated during public inquiries.
Campaigners believe “effective community engagement in local development planning” guidance should ensure local support is a key material consideration in the decision-making process.
“The evidence that we have heard from other MSPs but, above all, from people throughout Scotland is that communities feel swamped and overwhelmed.” said Mr Ewing.
“Community councils—although they are statutory consultees—feel that they are ignored, that their voice is not heard and that decisions will be taken by the Scottish Government regardless,” he added.
Brian Whittle, the Scottish Conservative MSP for South Scotland told the committee; “The petition is about how we balance the national imperative to reduce our vulnerability to volatile and finite fossil fuel resources against ensuring that communities who will have to live in the shadow of that infrastructure are not overwhelmed by it. It is clear to me that we do not have that balance right.
“In many cases, people challenge development not because of a blanket opposition to it, but because they want to understand how it will affect them and to be confident that their concerns are understood.,” he said.
“The current approach to planning is simply not equipped to offer any of that certainty, and there is no question in my mind about the fact that the planning process could and should be improved.”