Alistair Carmichael has urged the UK Government to spell out how it will honour its manifesto commitment to support the development of wind projects on Scotland’s remote islands.
The northern isles MP raised the issue during a debate in Westminster Hall, the Commons’ second chamber, yesterday.
He said ministers could help unlock the potential for renewable power generation and asked what the Conservatives’ general election pledge would mean in practical terms.
The manifesto said that while the party did not believe more large-scale onshore wind power was the right option for England, “we will support the development of wind projects in the remote islands of Scotland, where they will directly benefit local communities”.
Former Scottish secretary Mr Carmichael said he was pleased this had “survived the cull” of policies since the Tories failed to return a majority on June 8.
But he called on Richard Harrington, the new energy minister, to put meat on the bones and for an urgent approach.
Highlighting the “significant prize within our grasp”, he pointed to a 2013 study – jointly commissioned by the then Department for Energy and Climate Change (Decc) and the Scottish Government – which estimated the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland between them could supply up to 5% of Britain’s total electricity demand by 2030.
The Liberal Democrat added: “Although the commitment we have is a new one, the issue is not.
“This is an issue that has been within the machinery of government for some considerable time.
“It’s far from the case the work now starts from scratch.”
Mr Carmichael also suggested ring-fencing a pot for tidal and wave projects.
He said it did not need to be a huge, adding the guarantee alone could be “transformational”.
Mr Harrington, who is the 19th energy minister in as many years, stressed the need for “healthy competition” to get the best value for the consumer.
But he also acknowledged the importance of providing clarity to the developers, a group of whom he will be meeting shortly.
He added: “We are aware of this issue and we are fully on it.
“I hope my response provides some reassurance to members of this House, as well as to the constituents we all represent, that the government will support the development of onshore projects in the remote islands of Scotland where they will directly benefit local communities.”