Alex Salmond has urged MSPs to unite against “discriminatory” charges for island renewable energy projects to use the national grid.
The energy regulator Ofgem unveiled proposals on Tuesday that could cut charges by 60% for green energy projects in the north.
Unfortunately, schemes in the Outer Hebrides and Northern Isles could end up paying up to seven times more than the mainland.
The first minister told MSPs yesterday that the Ofgem proposals were a “move in the right direction” in giving Scottish renewable energy projects parity with those down south.
“While for some areas of Scotland they offer substantial changes, there is no indication of any relief for island communities,” he said.
“Just as we have united in the past in pressing to end this discrimination against Scottish generators, we should unite to make sure that the islands are included in that new settlement.”
Orkney Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur said it was time for a charging regime that recognised the “unique challenges and potential around Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles”.
Mr Salmond said the imposition of higher transmission charges for Scotland was a longstanding problem for which Energy Secretary Chris Huhne had “sympathy”.
“It is frustrating however, that in making the progress which Ofgem have indicated, they have omitted to remember that the islands are part of Scotland,” he said.
Mr Salmond said the goal was to achieve a charging regime that did not discriminate between the islands and mainland.
“This could be done by capping the excess amount which any area is charged so that people would have certainty that the additional amount was capped at the certain level,” he said.
Afterwards Mr McArthur said: “For Scotland, and indeed the UK, to meet renewable and climate change targets will require the islands to achieve their full potential.”
In a separate move, Western Isles SNP MSP Alasdair Allan wrote to Ofgem seeking clarification. He also plans to point out the “unfairness” to UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry.
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Mike Mackenzie lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament calling for fairness with the grid charges.