Minister to probe turbine ‘bullying’  

Credit:  Craven Herald & Pioneer | www.cravenherald.co.uk 20 July 2012 ~~

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey is to look into claims of bullying by the company behind plans for a wind farm near Gargrave .

Mr Davey was responding to an announcement made last week in Parliament by Skipton MP Julian Smith.

During energy and climate change questions on Thursday, Mr Smith referred to the owners of Ash Tree Farm and their claims, in a letter, of ‘bullying’ tactics by Energiekontor, the company behind proposals for three, 100 metre high turbines at Brightenber Hill, East Marton.

Mr Smith said that the family, whose farm is next to the proposed site, had received an offer of £275,000 and had also had “late night bullying calls”.

“This behaviour is happening right across North Yorkshire. Does the minister agree that the only way to fix it is to drastically cut the subsidy paid to these companies.”

Mr Davey, who is shortly expected to announce changes to the Renewables Obligation Subsidy Scheme, told Mr Smith that he did not agree that a cut to subsidies would stop such behaviour.

But he agreed that bullying tactics by developers were “completely unacceptable”.

“The wind industry generally is committed to a good standard of community consultation and to providing community benefit,” he said.

He added that if Mr Smith forwarded him the details, he would take it up with RenewableUK.

“I do not believe such practices are widespread, or that they are a consequence of renewable subsidies, but they are unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Davey told a select committee of MPs on Tuesday that ministers would not have to wait until parliament returns after the summer recess to confirm changes to the subsidy scheme.