Talking-up Scotland

The Independent newspaper headlined with: ‘Scotland’s wind turbines provided more electricity than the country needed four days in a row’ and went on to enthuse with this:

‘The total amount of wind energy produced on Christmas Eve was also the highest ever, with more than 74,000MWh sent to the National Grid – equivalent to the average daily electricity needs of 6.09 million homes. And, as energy use fell on Christmas Day, wind turbines provided 153 per cent of Scotland’s electricity needs.’

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/scotland-wind-turbines-more-electricity-country-needs-four-days-renewable-energy-power-national-grid-a7517066.html

Thirteen other news agencies including the Scotsman, STV and reddit also enthused about this ‘massive progress’! Who could have missed it? Oh yes, our massively staffed and resourced  ‘national broadcaster’, BBC Reporting Scotland found no time for this story. I wonder why? Well, could it be because it suggests that an independent Scotland could soon be not just energy-self-sufficient but a net exporter to the rUK desperate to break its dependence on Russian gas and having just stopped fracking to try and save the Tory vote?

Just in case you didn’t know there are far less than 6 million homes in Scotland. With a population of just over 5 million it must be less. I couldn’t find the statistics but I seriously doubt there will be more than 3 million. Let me know if you can find the actual figure. You’ll see also above there was 153% production on Christmas day so as we further develop wind power, a constant export supply seems likely.

STV did fairly if rather briefly report the story but Reporting Scotland couldn’t squeeze it into one of their typically demoralising shows. They did cover, negatively, in every case:

1. An IPPR Scotland reporting suggesting a skills mismatch in Scotland;
2. That future oil and gas income will be wiped out by rebates for decommissioning of rigs at the tax-payers expense (Won’t the oil companies have costed this in?);
3. Danish fix rooms, planned for Glasgow, are ineffective in reducing drug abuse (They were never intended to do so);
4. Increased drink-driving arrests;
5. The centralised Fire Service is causing increased mistakes;
6. In a pessimistic way, the First Minister’s case for a soft Brexit.

By contrast STV covered:

1. The wind power records;
2. Increased Scottish Government funding for historic buildings;
3. In a fair and balanced way, the First Minister’s case for a soft Brexit;
4. Increased drink driving arrests;
5. Nuclear workers to be balloted on strike action over ‘changes’ to their pension rights.

ITV is a business that cannot afford to reduce advertising income by chasing away Yes supporters who make up around 50% of its viewers. BBC Reporting Scotland, who refuse to release viewing figures, care not and are now in full propaganda mode as they work to hold back the tide of SNP victories in the forthcoming local elections. The Fear campaign did work in 2014 but I feel it’s losing its potency as Scots have become more politically aware. The fatally corrupt local Labour groups are going places….oot the door. With BBC Scotland refusing to link the Scottish Tories to the terrors of the English Tories’ actions, they might hang on a bit and also attract former Labour supporters prepared to put the Union above all their other supposed ‘progressive’ values.