Tag: sustainability

7 Comments

Never mind those terribly inconvenient ferry delays, Scotland has by far the highest level of fuel poverty ANYWHERE in Europe after 50 years of theft by Labour and Tory governments in London

johnrobertson834

The above is frankly shocking and would still be so even if it were not for this: Why Scots have a ‘critically low’ democratic well-being score – the 50 years theft of their energy supplies for one thing? Carnegie UK today have reported (previous TuS post) that Scots have a ‘critically low‘ democratic well-being score of only 40%. Who is surprised? I’m surprised it’s not zero, same as mine. If you are at all aware of Scotland’s 300 year plus and current predicament in the Union, how could you get anywhere near 40%. Given their many problems with crap governance but at … Continue reading Never mind those terribly inconvenient ferry delays, Scotland has by far the highest level of fuel poverty ANYWHERE in Europe after 50 years of theft by Labour and Tory governments in London

12 Comments

Labour Government now actively sabotaging Scotland with hypocritical concerns about spying wind turbines in Ardesier in Scotland which are 300 times further away from Westminster than the approved redacted rooms in the new China embassy

johnrobertson834

Ardesier is 447 miles from Westminster while the new Chinese embassy will be only 1.5. Thanks to Arty Hetty for sharing this: From Renewables Now today:: The UK government has blocked Chinese wind turbine maker Mingyang Smart Energy Group Ltd (SHA:601615) from developing a GBP-1.5-billion (USD 2bn/EUR 1.73bn) manufacturing hub in the Scottish Highlands, citing national security concerns. The decision suspends plans that were first unveiled in late 2025. The initiative was described as the largest and first fully integrated facility of its kind in the UK. The factory was supposed to be making turbines for offshore and floating wind projects. … Continue reading Labour Government now actively sabotaging Scotland with hypocritical concerns about spying wind turbines in Ardesier in Scotland which are 300 times further away from Westminster than the approved redacted rooms in the new China embassy

Leave a comment

Affluent Washington State refuses to fund even starting the replacement of 50 year-old plus ferries and considers return of one at nearly 70!

johnrobertson834

From the Washington State Standard: Budget writers in the Washington Legislature on Monday declared their intent to eventually buy more hybrid electric ferries to modernize the state ferry fleet.  But newly unveiled House and Senate transportation spending proposals left at the dock a $1 billion borrowing request from the governor to pay the tab, raising doubts about when and how a new shipyard order might happen. The budget plans would also further pause the conversion of existing diesel ferries to electric power. Washington State Ferries urgently needs more vessels — and more reliable vessels. The average age of the fleet is 35 … Continue reading Affluent Washington State refuses to fund even starting the replacement of 50 year-old plus ferries and considers return of one at nearly 70!

4 Comments

Ed Miliband to change law so that new nuclear power stations can be build closer to home despite clear evidence they bring increased breast cancer for mature women and childhood leukaemia

johnrobertson834

In the Guardian today: Miliband reveals plans that could mean nuclear power plants built near homes Changes to regulation to speed up development could also make it easier to build on sensitive nature sites. Ed Miliband has unveiled plans that could make it easier to build nuclear power plants closer to homes and on sensitive nature sites, as he attempts to speed up the development of energy infrastructure. The energy secretary set out changes to nuclear regulation, to be carried out this year, which would mean a “win-win for building critical infrastructure while protecting nature and the environment”. However, ministers … Continue reading Ed Miliband to change law so that new nuclear power stations can be build closer to home despite clear evidence they bring increased breast cancer for mature women and childhood leukaemia

6 Comments

BBC Scotland wildfires report ignores the role of the big private grouse estates to blame you, me and the SNP

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON In a BBC Scotland report yesterday: Scotland facing escalating threat from wildfires – report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx28wez183eo There’s not a word criticising the big grouse estates or their practice of muirburn and its role in wildfires. There is also, a complete failure to report the steps the Scottish Government is taking to manage that: From the Scottish Government in October 2025: Link – https://www.gov.scot/news/muirbuirn-licence-scheme/ This diplomatic account conceals, I feel sure, a determined policy by the SNP to reign in grouse moor owners … Continue reading BBC Scotland wildfires report ignores the role of the big private grouse estates to blame you, me and the SNP

1 Comment

Could a huge data centre revitalise Ayrshire – or ruin it? How Scotland’s massive water and electricity resources make it the perfect location for an industry which we could, after independence, tax fully

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON BBC Scotland, Glasgow & West today has: Could a huge data centre revitalise Ayrshire – or ruin it? Supporters talk of it revitalising the region, bringing new jobs and investment that would be ploughed back into the community. But the plans have met strong opposition from locals concerned about the impact on the wider area. Some of those opposed have contacted BBC Your Voice, and say the firm has not provided concrete details about a building that would dominate … Continue reading Could a huge data centre revitalise Ayrshire – or ruin it? How Scotland’s massive water and electricity resources make it the perfect location for an industry which we could, after independence, tax fully

9 Comments

As energy price rises loom, a reminder of why Michael Shanks will not protect us from cancer risks and why Scots would pay far less for electricity after independence

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON On the front page of Scotland on Sunday – Mothballed Hunterston B nuclear site may yet be revived. By whom? Junior Minister Michael Shanks (above left) of course. Here’s a reminder of Shanks’ insignificance: First, electricity costs From stewartb in June 2025: I fear that a majority of the electorate in Scotland still have NO IDEA of – (perhaps even conditioned to have no interest in?) – Scotland’s indigenous energy assets and their potential significance for their own lives and … Continue reading As energy price rises loom, a reminder of why Michael Shanks will not protect us from cancer risks and why Scots would pay far less for electricity after independence

4 Comments

French owned Somerset nuclear power station delayed by 13 years with construction costs soaring from £18bn to more than £50bn and to produce electricity costing more than 3 times that of wind power

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: From the Guardian today: Britain’s first new nuclear plant in a generation at the Hinkley Point C site will face further delay, at a cost of €2.5bn to the French utility company EDF. EDF said the first reactor at the site in Somerset will begin operations in 2030, a year later than planned – almost 13 years after construction work began – after a series of delays to the project. The latest … Continue reading French owned Somerset nuclear power station delayed by 13 years with construction costs soaring from £18bn to more than £50bn and to produce electricity costing more than 3 times that of wind power

Leave a comment

Young Phineas fogs the truth but after two decades away from London party oversight, building standards and regulations in Scotland are generally more strict or demanding than those in England in several key areas

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. In the Guardian today: Even multimillionaires can’t escape Britain’s cowboy builders, it seems. Last week, residents of One Hyde Park, the UK’s most expensive flats, won a £35m court case against the contractor that built their homes. The high court ordered the construction company Laing O’Rourke to fix defective pipework that was discovered to be causing problems in 2014, only three years after the luxury development was completed. At the other end of the economy, tens of thousands of families are facing damp and mould issues also caused by botched building works. A National Audit … Continue reading Young Phineas fogs the truth but after two decades away from London party oversight, building standards and regulations in Scotland are generally more strict or demanding than those in England in several key areas

4 Comments

Confused Sunday Mail misses how Scotland’s massive energy over-production could make billions after independence easily feeding and watering the ‘gobbling’ AI data centres

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Sunday Mail yesterday the above back-to-front headline and: Massive new data centres planned in Scotland to power the AI revolution would use up to three quarters of the country’s total electricity demand [sic], a new study has claimed. Research firm Foxglove, which campaigns for fair tech, found the “staggering” amount of power as well as water required by data centres “carries serious environmental risk” for Scotland. Its study this month found 11 “hyperscale” data centres currently in the planning system could use up an astonishing 3000 megawatts of electricity supply once all operational. “And they produce a huge amount … Continue reading Confused Sunday Mail misses how Scotland’s massive energy over-production could make billions after independence easily feeding and watering the ‘gobbling’ AI data centres