Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the publication by Scottish Enterprise of Stage 2 of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP).
The first stage of the plan identified Peterhead as one of eleven key sites that would see the necessary infrastructure developed to encourage the development of manufacturing facilities for the offshore renewables industry.
Today's report states that a combined public and private investment of £223 million would support the creation of 5,180 jobs and generating a significant economic boost to the locations identified. The report also recommends that the eleven sites are organised into three regional manufacturing clusters.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
"When Peterhead was identified as one of the key sites that would be developed for manufacturing offshore renewable equipment, it was a development that had the potential to substantially boost the economy of the town and the surrounding areas.
"The publication of this new report represents important progress towards achieving that aim as it both identifies the investment that will be needed and outlines the scale of the rewards that are available.
"Scotland has 25% of Europe's offshore wind and tidal energy potential and 10% of its offshore wave energy potential. The scale of the economic opportunities available is enormous, and Peterhead can be right at the cutting edge of these developments.
"Today's report is real progress towards creating more skilled jobs in the area and boosting the local and national economy as a result."
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
