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Scottish Greens will use an opposition debate on Wednesday to force a vote on halting all hyperscale data centre applications, amid a huge wave of speculative proposals across the country.<\/p>\n
The party says its move is prompted by a \u2018lack of action\u201d from the Scottish government.<\/p>\n
Opponents, led by the Greens, claim that if 24 outstanding applications were approved, they would consume 1.5 times as much electricity as the whole of Scotland currently uses at peak times.<\/p>\n
Responding to questions during First Minister\u2019s Questions last week, John Swinney insisted the government had introduced guidelines to ensure community interests were being protected.<\/p>\n
In August, the Government announced that planning authorities would be required to notify ministers of data centre applications within seven days of validation.<\/p>\n
However, his answers did not satisfy Greens co-leader Ross Greer who called for a pause on all applications until Scotland has a clear national strategy, alongside robust criteria for deciding which projects may be acceptable. The demand has been supported by the SNP\u2019s National Council, and some of its own MSPs.<\/p>\n
The Greens want to force the government into taking action and define what constitutes a \u2018green\u2019 data centre.<\/p>\n
Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: \u201cWe will be forcing the Scottish Government to make a very simple choice. Will they put a pause on the rush to build hyperscale data centres, or will they continue to allow speculative applications to keep piling up with no national strategy in place?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Scottish Government has had plenty of time to act and till now has chosen not to. Telling councils to notify Ministers when an application arrives is not a strategy, and it does nothing to stop these developments. Very basic questions such as what defines a \u2018green\u2019 data centre have been left unanswered for far too long.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Ministers believe Scotland should continue accepting hyperscale data centres on this scale, they should say so.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they recognise that we need a national plan before these projects are allowed to reshape our energy system and our communities, they should back our motion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis vote, using the Greens\u2019 parliamentary time, is an opportunity for every MSP, regardless of party allegiance, to stand with communities across Scotland and demand a pause while proper national rules are put in place. The Scottish Government should stop sitting on the fence and back our call for action.\u201d<\/p>\n
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