Energy Minister Fergus Ewing yesterday met with members of Edinburgh’s Green Investment Bank Group in a last-minute push to secure the bank for the city.
After his meeting he went to the Scottish Parliament to open a debate in support of the city’s bid for the bank. There is already cross party consensus on the issue.
Edinburgh submitted its bid to become the base for the UK Green Investment Bank to the Department of Business, Industry and Skills last month, and a decision is expected this month.
The bid has already secured support from Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils, as well as the Energy Technology Partnership, which represents universities all over Scotland.
Energy Spokespeople from all parties in the Scottish Parliament signed a letter in support of the bid sent by Mr Ewing to Vince Cable in December, and Mr Ewing has written to the Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in support of Edinburgh’s bid.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:
“Edinburgh is the only location in the UK which brings together both finance and the clean energy industry in a single location. It has an unrivalled concentration of industry skills and experience.
“Locating the Green Investment Bank in Edinburgh will ensure the best possible chance for the UK to develop as the European centre of excellence in this sector.
“I believe the bid put forward by the Edinburgh Green Investment Bank Group secures Edinburgh’s place as the front runner in this competition, and urge Vince Cable to choose it as the headquarters for the new Green Investment Bank.”
Speaking on behalf of the Edinburgh Green Investment Bank Group, Owen Kelly, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise said:
“We have put forward a very compelling case to bring the Green Investment Bank to Edinburgh and an impressively broad range of interests from industry, academia and politics have already expressed their support for Edinburgh’s bid. Today’s debate is a further opportunity to raise awareness of Edinburgh’s competitive offering.”
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Offshore WIND staff, February 23, 2012