WWF Scotland Have Their Say on Longannet Closure

The conservation organisation are refuting Conservative claims that Longannet power station is closing because of new wind turbines.

This comes after the announcement that Scottish Power's Longannet coal-fired power station is to close on 31st March 2016.

The Conservatives say Scotland's generating too much energy, that's why they're scrapping onshore wind subsidies a year earlier than planned.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government's blaming the disparity in transmission charges between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Laing Banks, the director of WWF Scotland, says "This announcement marks an historic, but important step in Scotland's energy transition.

While Longannet has served the nation for many years , it is Scotland's single biggest source of climate emissions and a combination of it's age, air pollution rules, carbon pricing and transmission charging have made closure inevitable."

Banks added: " This decision is certainly no surprise. Ministers have known for some time about Longannets likely closure and now need to focus on setting out a clear strategy for Scotland's energy transition so that we can secure a just transition to a clean energy future."