Scottish Parliament – March 4, 2025 – 1

S6M-16657.3: As an amendment to motion S6M-16657 in the name of Gillian Martin (Scotland’s Renewable Future), leave out from “rejects” to end and insert “recognises the importance of renewable energy in Scotland’s future, but believes that a balanced energy mix, including investment in new nuclear power, such as small modular reactors, is essential to ensuring a secure, clean and affordable energy source by reducing the country’s reliance on foreign energy and creating a reliable energy supply for the UK;

acknowledges that nuclear power is a proven, low-carbon energy source that operates independently of weather conditions, complementing the variability of renewables and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels;

notes that, while renewables will play a central role in Scotland’s energy transition, they alone cannot provide the constant, stable supply required to meet demand;

acknowledges that Scotland’s oil and gas sector has been a cornerstone of the UK’s energy security and economy for decades and will continue to play a crucial role in providing reliable energy, supporting skilled jobs and driving investment in clean energy innovation;

recognises the vital contribution of energy companies in leading the transition to a cleaner future through investments in emerging technologies that will underpin net zero goals while maintaining energy resilience;

notes that, whilst new renewable and electrical infrastructure is needed, the right of communities to object must be respected, with wind turbines, battery energy storage systems, pylons and other infrastructure only being built where it has the express consent of residents;

calls for an energy strategy that embraces renewables, nuclear and the managed use of domestic oil and gas to ensure affordable, stable and low-carbon energy for Scotland’s households and businesses, and welcomes the economic and employment opportunities that a broad-based energy mix will bring to Scotland.”

Original motion(S6M-16657): That the Parliament rejects the creation of new nuclear power plants in Scotland and the risk that they bring;

believes that Scotland’s future is as a renewables powerhouse;

further believes that the expansion of renewables should have a positive impact on household energy bills;

notes the challenges and dangers of producing and managing hazardous radioactive nuclear waste products, and the potentially catastrophic consequences of the failure of a nuclear power plant;

recognises that the development and operation of renewable power generation is faster, cheaper and safer than that of nuclear power, and welcomes that renewables would deliver higher employment than nuclear power for the development and production of equivalent levels of generated power.