Windfarms should be substantially cut and fossil fuels such as shale gas should be exploited, according to a review of Scottish Conservative energy policy.
The shake-up calls for councils to be given the power to halt all windfarm applications for a year and suggests home owners should be compensated for loss of value because of turbines.
The party says it wants to shift the balance away from onshore wind to other renewable sources. New nuclear power stations should also be built to replace Hunterston B and Torness.
Tory leader Ruth Davidson unveiled the policy review in Falkirk.
“This is a comprehensive review of Scotland’s energy needs, which does not focus narrowly on one particular part of the industry to meet demand,” she said.
“Crucial to keeping the lights on in years to come is an energy mix made up of renewables, nuclear and oil and gas.
“If we get this balance right then we can minimise the cost for consumers and the impact on our communities up and down the country.”
The Scottish Government is opposed to new nuclear power in Scotland and set a 100% renewable electricity target for 2020, based on the current level of consumption.
Struan Stevenson, a Tory MEP, said: “We have always said appropriately sited wind turbines can play a role in a mixed energy-source environment. Instead, the Scottish Government is ignoring other sources such as nuclear and pinning all its hopes on a form of energy that has been found to be unreliable and intermittent, not to mention hugely unpopular with the general public.”
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, convener of the energy, economy and tourism committee, said taxes should be favourable to North Sea oil and gas.
“As we can see from the experience in the US, the exploration of shale gas and coal-bed methane has the potential to raise billions of pounds, resulting in reduced energy bills,” he said.
Scottish Liberal Democrat energy spokesperson Liam McArthur said: “Achieving our climate change and emissions-reduction targets is going to be tough.
“However, these targets are supported by all the main parties in Scotland, including the Tories, and meeting them will require our renewable energy resources to be fully exploited.
“The Tories should think carefully about the increasingly hostile and populist rhetoric they are using in relation to wind energy.
“Undermining confidence and therefore investment in the sector will do nothing for jobs and wealth creation, or our efforts to decarbonise our economy.”
Chic Brodie, an SNP MSP who sits on the economy, energy and tourism committee, said: “Far from being an energy review, it seems that the Tories have simply reaffirmed their commitment to the kind of wrongheaded nonsense that has got them into the position they are in with the Scottish electorate.”