Profit-hungry firms identified as top concern in renewable transition, as new campaign pushes for Scotland to get a fair share of energy wealth

A clear majority of Scots want to see more public ownership in  renewables, according to new polling by More in Common, as the debate over Scotland’s energy future heats up. 

Ahead of May’s Holyrood elections, politicians are under increasing pressure to ensure that the public gets a fair deal from the UK’s energy system, with the SNP this week promising to push the UK Government for control over energy policy, and the Conservatives pledging to scrap green levies and encourage more drilling.

The poll’s findings are released as a new coalition campaign, Our Power, launches with a call  for ‘more ambition’ from the next Scottish Government to ensure Scotland’s renewable wealth benefits communities, workers and the country as a whole. 

The campaign is calling for more public ownership, both nationally and locally, and a commitment to greater public investment in offshore wind manufacturing to ensure more good jobs are created in Scotland. These demands, it  argues, are practical, popular and are all within the power of the Scottish Government right now.

The survey by More in Common found that: 

• Half of Scots (50%) blame the ‘greed of energy companies’ for high bills – and profit-making companies are seen as the top concern when it comes to Scotland’s transition to renewables, cited by nearly half (45%) of those surveyed.
• The Scottish government is more trusted than Westminster to deliver a fair energy system, but fewer than one in five (17%) think Scotland’s current energy policies deliver a good deal for Scots. 
• More public ownership of renewables is backed by a clear majority of Scots with around two thirds supporting more community- and local authority-owned energy projects (63%;  68%), and a similar number (64%) in favour of publicly-owned wind manufacturing. 

Our Power, which brings together Scottish community groups, workers and charities, said Scotland is currently ‘missing out’ on the clean energy boom, with mainly international, private companies, overseas investors and shareholders profiting, while ordinary Scots see little benefit. 

The new poll shows widespread support in Scotland for Our Power’s demands. An overwhelming 95% of Scots say it is important that renewable energy projects generate money for nearby local communities, with more public ownership of renewables  backed by a clear majority of Scots.

As well as two thirds of those polled supporting more community-owned and local authority-owned energy projects, which can generate revenue for local people and services, over half (53%) back the Scottish Government taking at least a 20% stake in every new offshore wind project to generate public revenue.   

Three quarters (77%) of Scots also think renewable energy developers should be required to create new jobs in the area, while 64% back a publicly-owned company to manufacture wind turbines in Scotland.

‍Liam Hainey, spokesperson for the Our Power campaign said: “The energy crises of the past few years have seen huge profiteering by some energy companies, so it’s not a shock that Scots are concerned about private firms becoming the biggest winners from the shift to renewables. 

“The next Scottish Government now has a chance to make sure the shift to clean energy benefits everyone – through more public ownership, both nationally and locally, and more investment to build a secure wind manufacturing base and create jobs in Scotland.

“We have everything we need to win big from the transition to renewable energy, but are currently missing out. We need more ambition – and fewer excuses from the next Scottish government – to ensure that Scotland doesn’t miss out and ordinary Scots get a fair share of our renewable energy wealth.”

‍Flick Monk, Community and Public Energy Campaigner at Platform, said: “As we build more and more renewable energy, the critical question that will make or break this transition is who should own and profit from it. It’s crystal clear that people want control and ownership of the energy transition, and benefits to be shared fairly across Scotland. 

“We have a choice: wind farms can fund community centres, local transport and nature restoration, or we can let multinationals syphon profits for shareholders as communities struggle to make ends meet. The Scottish Government must take a stand against energy company private profits and put communities first. It’s time for renewable power to be taken into public hands to make it fairer, more accountable, and a source of pride for future generations.”

‍Liz Murray, Policy Manager at Community Energy Scotland said: “It’s not surprising the public overwhelmingly supports community ownership of renewable energy, when you see all the potential benefits. Scottish communities who own their own wind turbines, hydro power and solar arrays have used the electricity and the income generated to improve housing, provide community transport, re-open or set up local pubs, cafes, small business units and community gardens – which also bring good, local jobs. 

“Given these huge rewards, we want to see the next Scottish Government  ramp up opportunities for more communities to own their own energy and for parties across the political spectrum to give this their support.”