Lib Dem inconsistencies cause rows at Holyrood
Lib Dems
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have been accused of hypocrisy by their political counterparts after they presented a conflicting environmental policy.
The row broke out in Holyrood after the Lib Dem's environmental spokesperson called for the government to pursue biomass boilers when the Lib Dem-led Edinburgh council have recently rejected a contract that would have seen the carbon friendly boilers installed in a number of the capital’s schools.
While Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume said: “Ministers must make a real effort to develop the biomass industry in Scotland,” his colleagues on Edinburgh’s council rejected the option of installing biomass boilers into five secondary and two primary schools.
Labour Councillor Andrew Burns told The Scotsman: "This indicates just how shortsighted the Lib Dems in Edinburgh have been. It is hugely hypocritical that a Lib Dem MSP is urging the Government to press ahead with biomass, when local Lib Dems have cancelled the most significant biomass project in central Scotland."
Biomass boilers use organic matter of recent origin as opposed to fossil fuels which have been developed over millions of years. The boilers provide a carbon neutral alternative to heating as the CO2 produced in by the boilers is offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed by the matter during its production.
Edinburgh's Lib Dem council have rebuked claims that the decision was taken for financial reasons, instead asserting that it was concerns over emissions which led to the rejection of the proposal. However Mr Burns has argued that such worries can be assuaged by building taller chimneys.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, Edinburgh’s Lib Dem environment leader, said: "Our decision to suspend the installation of biomass boilers in council facilities is based on the professional advice of our environmental health division. We took the decision that we could not take any potential risk, however small, with the health of Edinburgh’s school children."
Despite such assurances, Green councillor, Alison Johnstone, expressed confusion.
She said: “I’m surprised to learn that in Holyrood we have a Lib Dem MSP urging action to meet our renewable energy targets through biomass generation and in the City Chambers we have a Lib Dem administration deleting biomass boilers from one of the city’s biggest projects.”
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