Scottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie has said the UK oil and gas industry should start decommissioning now in order to allow the north-east to become the global leader in renewable energy.
Mr Harvie, who is also the party’s economy and energy spokesperson, claims a recent report has shown that “many more jobs” would be created in and around Aberdeen through the renewable sector than would be lost if the offshore industry completely collapsed.
Last night he said now was the time to start decommissioning oil and gas platforms, and that the north-east should concentrate on “localising” its economy instead of relying on multi-national firms.
Mr Harvie made the comments while visiting Scarf’s headquarters in Aberdeen yesterday to highlight the work it does to provide advice on fuel poverty and training courses in energy efficiency and renewables.
He said: “What I think is important to say about Aberdeen is that this city has such a connection to the fossil fuel industry, which has been going through difficult times recently, and that’s not going to magically disappear.
“I see this time as a period of transition where we should be investing in alternative technologies which allows us to create more jobs in the renewable industry and a whole host of sustainable industries.
“There are more jobs to create in the new economy than are at risk in the old economy, but we are not going to be able to create those if we do not commit now to investing in that transition now.
“This will secure the long term future of an area like the north-east which up until now has been so over reliant on fossil fuels.
“This is a transition that is required. It is not a choice and it is the only sustainable and reliable path.”
He added that the jobs he believes would be created by green energy would “more than” account for around 350,000 jobs which could be lost if oil giants were to pull out of the North Sea completely.
He also said decommissioning was a “huge opportunity” that should not be feared, and that the north-east should look at it as an opportunity to make a name for itself in renewables.
Commenting on the news about Shell pulling out of the Alaska Arctic drilling he said: “Anyone who cares about preserving the environment of the Arctic should be celebrating today.”