Meeting of the Parliament 18 February 2026 [Draft]
People along the Moray Firth are closely watching this debate not only in the gallery, but in Nairn, Findhorn, Burghead and Buckie, and along the coastline that is often described as the riviera of the north. Those who have got in touch with me have said that they are not anti-climate action or anti-renewable energy; they are just asking reasonable questions about impact, fairness and voice, and their concerns deserve respect.
We are living in a climate and nature emergency, and we know that we must move away from fossil fuels, but it is striking that some of those who are being the most vocal in the chamber tonight continue to support new oil and gas extraction as a silver bullet. We cannot claim urgency on reducing emissions while expanding the very industry that is driving climate breakdown.
However, supporting renewables does not mean suspending scrutiny. How we transition matters. If floating offshore wind infrastructure risks marine ecosystems, fishing livelihoods, navigation routes or tourism, those impacts must be fully understood and addressed. A healthy climate, thriving wildlife, clean oceans and strong communities all depend on each other. Science shows that our economy is part of the natural world, not separate from it, and it can thrive only when the planet is healthy, too.
There is also a wider context here. The proposed location is close to the Cromarty Firth freeport. The Scottish Greens opposed freeports, because international evidence shows that they often weaken employment protections, displace other sustainable local jobs and fail to deliver genuine community wealth. In my recent discussions with trade unions, strong concerns were raised about pay conditions and enforcement in freeport areas. If the nearby freeport had not been designated, would this spillover proposal exist in this form? Were the full implications made clear during the bidding process?
As we have heard, communities are worried that a lot of public money has already been spent on early exploratory work before they have had any real chance to help shape plans. Even if the Government is not running the project itself, the use of public funding means that it still has a responsibility to set the ground rules, and that should include strong and meaningful involvement from communities right from the start instead of their views being sought once most of the decisions have already been made.
When Crown Estate Scotland was established under the Scotland Act 1998, an inherent conflict was created. The public purse benefits significantly from it, but the Scottish Government, via the marine directorate, has the final say on whether marine developments such as this one go ahead. Where is the community voice in that?
The strength of community feeling on this proposal is clear. The fact that Crown Estate Scotland appears to have misjudged the feelings of local communities so significantly reflects a wider concern that it has lost touch with the communities that rely on it to protect and safeguard their coasts and waters from encroaching business interests, whether it be floating storage parks or polluting salmon farms.
It is clear that Crown Estate Scotland benefits from the proposal through the revenue generated via its lease and proof of concept for future opportunities; it is clear that Offshore Solutions Group benefits through generous grants and increased revenue for its directors, as well as potential expansions in the future; and it is clear that the Scottish Government will benefit through revenues paid to it. How do the people of the Moray Firth benefit?
We should have begun the transition away from oil and gas in earnest 20 or 30 years ago, and both the UK and Scottish Governments should have done more to include communities from the start. We are now trying to move quickly, but speed cannot replace trust. If Scotland is to lead in offshore wind, let it lead in democracy too, grounded in marine protection, worker protection, community voice and genuine shared benefit. That must be the foundation, not an afterthought.