July 31, 2014
U.K.

David Cameron: ‘Britain almost at limit for onshore wind energy’

Naomi Penrose | Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer | 30 July 2014 | www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk

The Prime Minister says Britain has almost reached the limit for onshore wind energy.

David Cameron told the press at the Royal Welsh Showground on Monday that he does not see the need for more windfarms once the UK reaches its target of 10 per cent of electricity generated by onshore wind.

Currently applications for five large Mid Wales windfarms are being considered by the Secretary of State, following the largest public inquiry held of its kind.

If all five are given the go-ahead they will require the construction of a highly controversial 400kv pylon line from Cefn Coch to Lower Frankton, through the Vyrnwy Valley.

Mr Cameron said: “What we’ve said is that we think once we reach the level of 10 per cent of our electricity generated by onshore wind then there really should not be a need for more and so if you look at what is in the pipeline already, or that is already in construction or has planning permission, that is enough to achieve that.

“So this is an announcement if you like for a future Conservative Government rather than the current Coalition Government but I’ve said once you reach that level of 10 per cent you don’t really need any more onshore wind and so people should expect, in the event of a Conservative Government, really the moratorium effectively on support for those sorts of proposals because it won’t be necessary once we’ve reached that 10 per cent, and that’s in the planning pipeline.”

Earlier this year, Mr Cameron indicated he would be looking at cutting subsidies for onshore windfarms in the future.

He said once Britain meets its targets in generating energy from onshore wind subsidies would then be cut.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/07/31/david-cameron-britain-almost-at-limit-for-onshore-wind-energy/