Amended Motion 11
Home Heating: Plans Not Bans
“That this Congress condemns the announced closure of refining operations at Grangemouth and loss of hundreds of jobs which will undermine Scotland’s energy independence and security; and believes that this has been the result of loose talk by politicians without a robust industrial and energy strategy to retain jobs in Scotland.
“Congress believes that in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis and stagnating wages, the priority of any energy strategy must be to onshore jobs, and make energy secure and affordable – especially to the lowest income households; expresses deep concern over the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Bill consultation which proposes banning gas boilers for systems such as heat pumps which come with high installation costs; and notes the existing, vast and skilled gas workforce and 280,000km gas network which, in the view of GMB, could be reskilled and repurposed to provide low and no carbon hydrogen to homes.
“Congress welcomes the Scottish Government’s announcement of £500m over five years to anchor wind supply chains in Scotland starting with £67m in 2024/25; but notes that this investment is long overdue with billions of pounds of work and tax revenues already being offshored; and recognises that workers’ voices and participation must be central in a ‘Just Transition’ which so far has meant redundancies as frontline expertise have been excluded.
“Congress therefore calls on the Scottish Government to:
- increase the pace and investment in Scottish wind supply chains with an aim to upgrade current manufacturing facilities and establish new ones;
- utilise procurement powers to mandate domestic manufacturing in all energy infrastructure projects; and
- meet net zero targets by investing in appropriate home heating and a planned rollout of home insulation starting in the lowest income communities instead of banning gas heating and forcing the installation of costly renewable heating systems onto households.”
Mover: GMB Scotland
Seconder: Moray Trades Union Council
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