UK ministers have been warned that delays to Scotland's first carbon capture and storage facility will put jobs at risk and compromise energy security.
Earlier this month, some of the biggest names in Scotland’s business community joined forces to urge the UK Government to back the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in Aberdeenshire.
Politicians from across the party spectrum have signed the open letter to the Chancellor which is being co-ordinated by the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce. Parliamentarians have until Friday to show their support by signing the letter.
The letter calls on the UK government to make the proposed facility an "immediate priority" as there are mounting concerns the project could be sidelined after Ms Reeves delivers her Spring Statement this afternoon.
The letter says: “If Scotland’s energy communities are to avoid a cliff edge in the transition to clean energy, major projects such as Acorn CCS [carbon capture and storage] must move forward with pace and with certainty.
“Further delays will jeopardise Scotland’s industrial decarbonisation, put significant private sector investment at risk and compromise our energy security. Acorn is Scotland’s only at-scale CO2 transport and storage solution. Without it, there is no viable route for Scottish industry to decarbonise.”
It argues that Acorn could be a major driver of economic activity and growth, unlocking £7billion in private investment, creating 15,000 new jobs, protecting 18,000 existing ones and generate £17.7billion for the UK economy.