The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFUS) is looking to gather its members’ views on the energy strategy for Scotland to inform its response to the government’s consultation.
The union will host a webinar on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 7.00pm where members will have the opportunity to find out more about the consultation and how to respond.
At the webinar, NFUS’ climate policy manager Kate Hopper will lead a 30-minute session on the energy strategy and will seek input from members.
The event will also feature a 15-minute session from the union’s new membership affinity partner, NFU Energy, on the ways it can help farmers through group-buying power to source cheaper energy contracts.
Urging farmers to sign up for the webinar, which will be chaired by the NFUS vice president Andrew Cannon, Hopper said: “Reducing energy use, maximising efficiencies and looking at the potential of renewables on farms and crofts are major topics for discussion right now.
“The Scottish government’s draft ‘energy strategy’ sets out how Scotland will reduce energy use, move away from oil and gas production, and increase renewable energy by 2045.
“The energy strategy is also consulting on how best to ‘decarbonise’ Scottish farms and crofts by reducing energy use and moving to renewables.
“We need members to help us identify the best ways to ‘decarbonise’ Scottish agriculture and reduce energy use on farms, and what support, advice and skills they may need to deliver this.”
Hopper said the union also wants to look in detail at opportunities and barriers to developing renewable energy, and the potential impacts of renewable energy development on land use and agricultural production.
“I urge all farmers and crofters with an interest in how the industry will play its part in Scotland’s future energy strategy to sign up for the webinar,” she concluded.
