RENEWABLES PROJECTS CREATES 250 JOBS.

RENEWABLES PROJECTS CREATES 250 JOBS.

Highland & Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Climate Change & Energy Committees – has welcomed today’s announcement by the First Minister today (Thursday) which will secure 85 jobs in Argyll and create at least 250 more. The SNP Government, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Development International (SDI) have been working together for some months to secure a long term future at the Vestas turbine manufacturing plant near Campbeltown, which will now be taken over by Danish firm Skykon. Its future is now secure and offers long-term employment. The £45 million investment will see a three fold expansion of the plant saving the present 85 jobs, creating 250 more, and 150 indirect spin-off jobs. Mr Gibson said: “This is very good news for Argyll and the Highlands & Islands. Due to the hard work of the Scottish Government, HIE and SDI the people of Campbeltown can now not only feel more secure but look forward to even more jobs. “That is not only good news but shows how renewables offer us a means to stave off the economic difficulties that many people are facing. “This announcement shows how renewables can transform the economy of some of the remotest parts of Scotland, particularly in these harsh economic times. “Investment in renewables shows us the way forward and shows how they can create jobs. That is why the SNP is focussing on renewable energy as the future for Scotland. “That is why we have seen the SNP Government determine 26 energy applications since May 2007, including consenting 20 renewables projects, totalling over 1.5 GW. That equals one a month - more than during the entire previous 4 years of the previous Labour/LibDem Executive added together.”