Minister to fast-track decisions on renewable energy

DECISIONS on renewable energy developments should be speeded up, according to the Holyrood energy minister.

Jim Mather told industry leaders that the Scottish Government was looking at setting a target time of nine months for decisions on new energy applications.

This would apply to schemes where there is no public inquiry.

He stressed the government's commitment at the Green Energy Awards in Edinburgh.

He said: "We substantially increased Scotland's renewable electricity target to provide 50 per cent of Scottish energy demand from renewables by 2020, with an interim milestone of 31 per cent by 2011. These targets send a clear signal about the scale of our renewables ambitions.

"We need more renewables but not at any price - the best applications are those that take care to resolve environmental and planning concerns in advance."

Ministers want to see decisions speeded up by improving the quality of applications and ensuring more robust procedures are implemented.

"I believe we can work to an objective of having applications being determined within nine months where there is no public inquiry," the minister added.

Mr Mather will be discussing the issue with the Forum for Renewable Energy next week.