February 29, 2012
Letters, U.K.

Concerns about the Government’s support for on-shore wind turbines

The Telegraph, www.telegraph.co.uk 29 February 2012

Over 100 MPs wrote to David Cameron on January 30 to express their concern about the Government’s policy of support for on-shore wind energy production. They felt it is unwise to make consumers pay, through a levy on their bills, for the quality of energy production that typifies on-shore wind turbines. They also asked the Government to cut dramatically the subsidy for on-shore wind and to spread the savings between other types of reliable renewable energy production and energy-efficiency measures.

The MPs also expressed concern that the new National Planning Policy Framework, in its current form, diminishes the chances of local people defeating unwanted on-shore wind farm proposals through the planning system, and set out some subtle changes to the existing wording that they felt would re-balance the planning system.

Finally, the MPs’ letter urged David Cameron to ensure that planning inspectors know that the views of local people and long-established planning requirements should always be taken into account. We agree with the views set out in that letter and we urge the Prime Minister to act on those recommendations.

Sir Christopher Audland
Dr David J Bellamy
Lord Carlile of Berriew (Lib Dem)
Michael Bruton
Chairman, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Cornwall
William Cash
David Clarke
Chairman, CPRE North Yorkshire
Adam Dant
Dr John R Etherington
Bruce Green
Dr Michael J Hall
Sir Paul Hayter
Chairman, CPRE Northamptonshire
Roger Helmer MEP (Con)
Sir Bernard Ingham
Prof Michael Jefferson
Sir Timothy Kimber Bt
Prof Michael Laughton
Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd
Arabella Lennox-Boyd
Siân Lloyd
Prof James Lovelock
Elizabeth Mann
Vice Chairman, CPRE Durham
Lord Marlesford (Con)
Lord Moran
Lord Naseby (Con)
Rt Rev John Oliver
Lord Reay (Con)
Guy Schanschieff
Hugh Sharman
Struan Stevenson MEP (Con)
Prof Anthony Trewavas
David J White
Lord Williams of Elvel (Lab)
Brian Wood
Chairman, CPRE Oxfordshire

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/29/concerns-about-the-governments-support-for-on-shore-wind-turbines/