“No place for subsidizing wind–a failed medieval technology” — Tory MP Owen Paterson
The Telegraph, February 13, 2016
Ministers have been accused of planning a U-turn that would see consumers fund new onshore wind farms through green levies.
The Government confirmed it was “looking carefully” at a wind industry proposal to continue public financial support for new turbines, despite a manifesto pledge to halt expansion.
Critics described the proposal as a con, and said the Conservatives’ policy had been “crystal clear” that the subsidies would stop.
Under the plan, households would still be forced to pay millions of pounds on their energy bills to fund new wind farms – but the payments would no longer be defined as subsidies.
The wind industry’s plan hinges on the fact that no new power plants are commercially viable to build at the moment without extra financial support from bill-payers.
If wind farms can be built at lower cost to consumers than alternatives, such as new gas plants, then payments to fund them should no longer be classed as “subsidy”, the industry argues.
The wind industry’s plan hinges on the fact that no new power plants are commercially viable to build at the moment without extra financial support from bill-payers.
If wind farms can be built at lower cost to consumers than alternatives, such as new gas plants, then payments to fund them should no longer be classed as “subsidy”, the industry argues.
Hard-working energy consumers will not be conned by a change in name. The Conservative manifesto was crystal clear that public subsidies for onshore wind will stop”
Owen Paterson, Tory MP and former environment secretary
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