MP pushes for clean energy investment in Inverclyde during meeting with minister

INVERCLYDE’S MP says he laid out the case for new green investment in the area during a meeting with the UK Government’s energy minister.

Martin McCluskey met with energy minister Michael Shanks and welcomed the introduction of the new Great British Energy Bill to Parliament.

The establishment of Great British Energy was a key campaign pledge for Labour and was part of an announcement energy secretary Ed Miliband made while visiting Greenock.

Great British Energy will be a publicly owned company headquartered in Scotland that the government says will invest in clean, home-grown energy.

Mr McCluskey said: “Within a month of the election, Labour is delivering on one of its key campaign pledges – starting the work on establishing GB Energy.

“GB Energy will create thousands of high skilled, well paid and unionised jobs across Scotland in the energy sector.

“By investing in clean energy, we will ensure that electricity bills are no longer exposed to the kinds of gas price shocks that drove prices up in recent years.

“I want GB Energy investment to come to our area and once the company is up and running, I will be pushing for them to invest in many of the shovel ready projects that our area has to offer.

“Before parliament went into recess, I was pleased to be able to meet Labour’s new energy minister Michael Shanks to communicate the case for investment in our area and the need for more jobs in this growing sector.”