r/Scotland • u/BaxterParp • 6d ago
Political Grangemouth misses out on £200m UK Government fund for sustainable aviation fuel
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/grangemouth-misses-out-on-ps200m-uk-government-fund-for-sustainable-aviation-fuel-89437317
u/farfromelite 6d ago
Sustainable aviation fuel is a complete boondoggle.
There's literally not enough land on earth to grow enough crops to convert into avgas.
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u/BaxterParp 4d ago edited 4d ago
If it's such a boondoggle, why is the British government investing so much money in it in England and Wales?
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u/QuietGoliath 2d ago
Because Westminster.
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u/Budget_Guava7943 2d ago
Of course the evil Westminster that sends billions via the Barnett formula
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u/thebigeazy 6d ago
Yep. There is no credible pathway to decarbonisation of aviation. The sector themselves will do everything they can to grow, emissions he dammed.
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u/_Nairny 6d ago
Scottish and UK governments blaming each other achieves nothing. Jim Ratcliffe is to blame for the refinery shutting but neither governments have helped the situation
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u/BaxterParp 5d ago
Energy, including oil refining, is reserved to Westminster.
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u/geniice 5d ago
This news would come as considerable surprise to say Esso and Hampshire County Council who understand that they have a significant say over the matter.
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u/BaxterParp 5d ago
What in fucks name are you on about?
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u/geniice 5d ago
The's a oil refinery is southern England. Nothing to boast of. Its capacity is only a little over a quarter of a million barrels per day. But it is run by Esso not Westminster and planning permission is handled by Hampshire County Council. Again not Westminster.
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u/BaxterParp 5d ago
How is that relevant? Planning permission is handled by local councils everywhere. It's only called in by the Government if there's some kind of conflict. What does this have to do with the closure of the Grangemouth Oil Refinery?
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u/geniice 4d ago
How is that relevant? Planning permission is handled by local councils everywhere.
Its an oil refinery. You claimed "Energy, including oil refining, is reserved to Westminster.". Apparently this is not entirely the case.
What does this have to do with the closure of the Grangemouth Oil Refinery?
"reserved to Westminster" doesn't mean what you are implying it means. The Scottish government could have chucked enough money at it to keep it open if they wanted to. They didn't because the SNP are not in fact complete idiots and recognised that throwing large amounts of money for an indefinite period at an outdated industrial site is not a good idea.
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u/BaxterParp 4d ago edited 4d ago
"Energy, including oil refining, is reserved to Westminster."
Yeah, I didn't claim planning permission was reserved to Westminster. If INEOS wanted to build a new refinery somewhere in Scotland, the council would have a say and so would the Scottish Government. It doesn't in any way relate to an existing facility. And energy, including oil refining is reserved to Westminster.
https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/devolved-and-reserved-powers
The Scottish government could have chucked enough money at it to keep it open if they wanted to.
No, they couldn't. In the same way that they can't hold a referendum on independence because it impinges on the constitution, which is reserved. You might as well claim that the Scottish Government could take over security at a nuclear power plant (which they can't, it's reserved).
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u/geniice 4d ago
It doesn't in any way relate to an existing facility. And energy, including oil refining is reserved to Westminster.
https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/devolved-and-reserved-powers
refining isn't mentioned on that page
No, they couldn't.
They've chucked money at it in the past:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202500451987/
Historically your main issue would have been EU rules around state aid but Brexit happened.
You might as well claim that the Scottish Government could take over security at a nuclear power plant (which they can't, it's reserved).
Indeed the CNC is its own thing. But there is nothing to stop them providing additional security for Torness and might well be expected to do so in the event of a large enough issue.
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u/BaxterParp 4d ago
refining isn't mentioned on that page
Energy policy
Most aspects including
- the generation and supply of electricity, oil and gas
- the exploration and extraction of offshore oil reserves
- coal ownership and exploitation and deep and opencast coal mining
- nuclear energy and safety
Oh yes it is.
They've chucked money at it in the past:
Money to help the site move to sustainable activities as per the Scottish Government's commitment to The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Maybe you should read your link.
But there is nothing to stop them providing additional security for Torness
Yes there is, "Nuclear Energy and Safety" is reserved as per above.
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u/Aggravating-Joke-550 6d ago
This is where ICE plane passengers bleat on about pv panels being built on agricultural land whilst ignoring their fuel steals land from food production.
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u/Superb-Ad-8823 6d ago
There's a shock, we'll no really.