Patrick Harvie accused of 'greenwashing SNP failures' for 'holding back' solar power

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Patrick Harvie has been accused of "holding back" solar power in Scotland after it was revealed he refused to raise limits on the size of projects eligible for business rates relief.

Scottish Lib Dems economy spokesperson Willie Rennie hit out at the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights saying the situation was "astonishing" that Harvie wasn't willing to help firms across the country.

Rennie said: " Patrick Harvie is holding back Scottish solar power. His sole role in government seems to be greenwashing SNP failures." According to planning rules north of the border firms are limited on the size of solar panel projects before going through what can be a lengthy planning application.The limit in Scotland is currently 50kW, however it's 100kW in the rest of the United Kingdom therefore projects must produce less than 50kW in order to be eligible for relief.Rennie called for the cap on rates relief to be lifted in order to help companies across the country get through the tough winter months.He said: "Every solar panel installed on a building in Scotland is a blow struck against the energy crisis and Vladimir Putin’s fossil fuel blackmail.

Raising the cap on rates relief for solar developments is a common sense measure that could help businesses to bring down costs and support them through the tough winter ahead."The need to expand renewable energy and to move to cheaper forms of electricity production are both more urgent than ever.