July 5, 2012
England

Wind farm subsidies condemned by Howden MP

www.goolecourier.co.uk 5 July 2012

The MP for Howden has called for a sharp cut in subsidies for future and existing wind farms, describing them as “modern monstrosities”.

Following a meeting with the minister for the department of energy and climate change, David Davis claimed a cut would reduce the financial incentive to cover East Yorkshire in wind farms.

He said a statement on the matter could be expected in the next ten days.

Mr Davis added: “It will also make a little more equal the planning and legal battle between the vast and wealthy wind farm companies and the small villages and parishes whose quality of life is blighted by these modern monstrosities.

“Any improvement in local communities to be able to challenge these big companies must be viewed as a positive step forward.”

Mr Davis didn’t know how many wind farms there were in total, but added: “A very large number have got planning permission that have not been built yet. We could see them dominating the horizon soon.”

He continued: “I have had experience in my constituency of my constituents being overwhelmed by these things, by firms wanting to put them too close to villages.”

Mr Davis said the 50ft high versions of turbines weren’t too bad, but it was the 400ft ones that caused the problems.

“They are huge,” he said. “They really should be off-shore, not on land.

“People are very concerned about the noise. It could destroy people’s ability to sleep and seriously reduce their quality of life.”

Mr Davis also poured scorn on how useful wind farms are. He said: “There is serious doubt about the effectiveness of land-based wind farms as a reliable source of energy.

“The coldest day in the year, when domestic electricity demand was at its highest, normally falls during winter anti-cyclonic conditions in January and February. These conditions are marked by clear skies, extreme cold and frost, and no winds.

“So when we need the energy most the wind farms are largely useless.”

Mr Davis claimed that current figures estimate that £10 a year on a typical electricity bill is spent on funding wind power. He said the taxpayer-funded increase, it is estimated, could have pushed up to 50,000 households into fuel poverty.

“It is time for a sensible debate to take place about the future of energy and how it is to be funded,” said Mr Davis, “So that the country can benefit from energy reform rather than the pockets of the renewable companies being further lined.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/05/wind-farm-subsidies-condemned-by-howden-mp/