His main contribution was during the "Green Energy Commission" motion submitted by the Policy Committee and moved by Liam McArthur MSP.

The debate was focussed on the recent report titled "Scotland's Energy Future" published last week by the Scottish Liberal Democrat Energy Commission.

The conference highlighted the need to:

Provide dedicated grant support for new technologies and R&D to capitalise on Scotland's natural advantage in renewable energy and pave the way for generations of green jobs in the future;
Improve the efficiency and streamlining of the planning system to ensure appropriate siting of renewables and minimise environmental impact (on communities);
Increase public engagement in renewable energy generation, including through buy-in opportunities for proposed developments to allow local people and communities to benefit from local energy generation.

In endorsing such an approach, Mr Milne emphasised the specific need for local communities to capture the financial and environmental benefits that ought to come from leading the renewable green energy revolution.

He stated the need for increase public engagement and scrutiny very early in the whole planning process.

"Banff and Buchan is very rural and many energy companies view it as an ideal area to site many wind farms. It's unfair to expect the smaller towns and villages to be made to feel they have an obligation on behalf of urban communities to put up with large wind farms without benefiting financially for the imposition of these turbines.

"Whilst the majority of rural dwellers accept the important contribution such schemes can make to our overall energy generation there is a real need to engage much earlier than at present. It is absolutely crucial that local rural communities feel they are part of the whole planning process," he said.

In supporting the motion in it's demand for the creation of a single UK authority to provide strategic vision for meeting renewable and energy efficiency targets, Mr Milne was also keen to stress the role that local engineering companies currently involved in the offshore oil and gas industry can play in years to come as the "green energy" revolution is phased in.

He added: "For example there are many engineering companies in and around the Peterhead area that are ideally suited to developing the turbines needed for both onshore and offshore installations.

"It's therefore important that government agencies work in unison with our indigenous industries which already have the necessary skills base to both retain these jobs in our community and help ensure the future green economy leads to real jobs for future generations to come."

After the conference unanimously passed the motion, Galen added:
"Having recently visited a wind farm near New Deer I was surprised how quiet they can be but it was explained this particular installation were of a new design that minimised nuisance noise and this is exactly what needs to be taken account of at the planning engagement stage.

"I also visited both Banff and Buchan College in Fraserburgh and Score in Peterhead recently so I'm equally convinced we have the knowledge, the skills, plus the necessary business acumen to make this northeast corner of Scotland the powerhouse generation capital for the whole UK.

"That's what I'll be saying loud and clear, win or lose this upcoming general election. Its crucial for the whole local economy we maximise our potential."