| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Windfarm subsidies will be axed, says Cameron
Credit: By Robert Merrick, Parliamentary Correspondent | The Northern Echo | 29th September 2013 | www.thenorthernecho.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Subsidies for wind farms will be axed, David Cameron said – potentially scaling back development in County Durham, a wind power ‘hotspot’.
In an eve-of-conference interview, the prime minister revealed he did not want to keep the subsidies for “a second longer than they’re necessary”.
The move appeared to be in response to Ed Miliband’s eye-catching pledge to freeze energy bills for 20 months, from 2015, to tackle a “cost of living crisis”.
Critics claim the so-called ‘renewables obligation’ – which subsidises wind farms – piles £23 on each household bill.
But scrapping subsidies would be bitterly criticised by environmental campaigners, who argue the expansion of wind farms is crucial to cutting carbon emissions.
That includes in County Durham, which – on one calculation – has the second highest concentration of wind turbines in England, after Cornwall.
More than 20 farms have been built, or have permission, with another 13 in planning – and a controversial 24-turbine development earmarked for The Isles near Newton Aycliffe.
Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Cameron said: “Recently, I opened the London Array, the biggest offshore wind farm anywhere in the world, and it’s good that Britain is leading the way in this technology.
“We do need some of these new renewable technologies – and that’s why there are subsidies – but we shouldn’t have those for a second longer than they’re necessary.”
E.ON recently agreed to reduce the output of The Isles wind farm from 63.5 megawatts (mw) to 48mw, which means it will be decided by local planners, rather than the Government.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=57293 ]
