Congress again threw its weight behind
a balanced energy strategy, based on a diversity
of fuel sources from renewables to nuclear power,
to ensure a secure and affordable supply of energy
which contributes to a reduction in emissions.
UNISON's Dave Watson told delegates that, as
well as deveoping the potential of renewable energy,
we need to ensure that we have 'real juice' running
into the network in Scotland.
"That means proven technology and the generating
capacity to meet it", he said.
He called for a coherent debate in government
and deplored the lack of planning "with governments
and the regulator in thrall to market solutions".
"The market fails consumers and in particular
the fuel poor", said Dave, adding that one
in four Scottish households are in fuel poverty
with "all the misery that high energy prices
bring".
"Let's remember that the overwhelming majority
of generation keeping the lights on in Scotland
today comes from power stations that were built
by the industry when it was in public ownership.
"There is a lesson to be learned there -
unlike the banks, perhaps we shouldn't wait until
the lights go out before we recognise that market
madness is no way to run anything and certainly
not a vital public service like energy",
said Dave.
