Rob Gibson gets Green Energy award
SNP MSP Rob Gibson has been named Best Politician at the Scottish Green Energy Awards 2012.
Mr Gibson was recognised for his "outstanding" contribution to the development of the renewable energy industry in Scotland.
He received the award, sponsored by RenewablesUK, at the 11th Scottish Green Energy Awards held on Thursday night in the National Museum in Edinburgh.
The MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, who has been nominated for the award twice before, was this year cited as 'the most consistent MSP supporter of the speedy delivery of renewables at commercial, small business and community scales'.
Also nominated in the category of Best Politician were Right Hon Vince Cable MP, Ed Davey MP, Liam McArthur MSP and Rob's SNP colleague Chic Brodie MSP.
Rob was not the only winner from the Highlands and Islands with Nigg Skills Academy picking up the Contribution to Skills & Training award, Best Project going to Edinbane Wind Farm on Skye and Highlands and Islands Enterprise scooping the Public Sector Initiative category.
Speaking after the event, which was attended by over 1000 representatives from the renewable sector, Rob said: "I am proud to receive this Green Energy Award. Our renewables revolution is a response to reducing carbon emissions to help our nation set the pace for tackling climate change, creating new skilled jobs and helping end fuel poverty.
“As is clear from the amount of winners from the region the Highlands and Islands have a key role in Scotland's mission and my constituency hosts many of the hubs to build on our clean energy drive for electricity and heat security.
“The energy potential Scotland has from renewables is incredible and the sector offers us the opportunity to spread skilled energy jobs and clean energy production around Scotland.
“This has been a bumper year for the industry – around £2.3billion was invested in projects, beaten our 31 per cent target by four per cent and announced a new interim target of producing the equivalent of 50% of Scotland's electricity demand will be met by renewable sources by 2015.
“We are making great progress to ensure Scotland will become the world-leader in the new energy systems that will power this country in a way which is compatible with the future of the planet."
