A majority Conservative government, after the next election, would end any additional bill payer subsidy for onshore wind farms. The Tories say they will also change the planning system so that local councils have the decisive say on any future wind farms beyond those which have already received planning consent. They claim that household energy bills will not rise as a result of this policy.
Commenting on the policy the Energy Minister Michael Fallon said: “Making sure that we have a good mixture of reliable energy is an important part of our long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain. We remain committed to cutting our carbon emissions. And renewable energy, including onshore wind, has a key role in our future energy supply. But we now have enough bill payer-funded onshore wind in the pipeline to meet our renewable energy commitments and there’s no requirement for any more. That’s why the next Conservative Government will end any additional bill payer subsidy for onshore wind, and give local councils the decisive say on any new wind farms.”
Responding to the announcement the Green Party leader Natalie Bennett told the Politico Daily that: "The Tory announcement is a desperate gesture to try to win back votes from UKIP that makes no economic or environmental sense. Onshore wind is currently the cheapest source of renewable energy, even Tory voters are broadly I'm favour of it. what the government needs to do is get serious about encouraging community ownership of renewable energy, including wind, which gives full control and financial boosts to local communities."
Commenting on the Conservatives’ 2015 commitment, Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “This Government is green because the Liberal Democrats have fought every step of the way to protect our environment and lead the fight against climate change. That’s why we are creating thousands of green jobs, investing more in renewable energy than ever before and working with our European partners to lead the drive for the most ambitious emissions targets across the world.
“We have already fought the Conservatives over capping onshore wind in this Government – and won. Putting the brakes on onshore wind would be disastrous for business and jobs in our growing green economy. Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of green energy, so cutting it could lead to higher bills. You can’t trust the Conservatives on their own to build a fairer society. Only with Liberal Democrats in Government can we build a stronger economy and a fairer society.”
Also Responding to the Conservative Party promise, to halt building new wind farms only if Tories win a majority in the next parliament, UKIP energy spokesman Roger Helmer MEP said: "Firstly the Tories are unlikely to win a majority, and secondly they probably can't be believed given their track record of supporting wind farms. This Tory party won't stop inefficient and expensive offshore wind farms which do even more economic damage.
"It is a bit farcical that this policy announcement is made on the day that the Coalition Energy Secretary unveils five new wind farm projects. It is quite revealing, indeed comical that it was only in February 2012 that David Cameron said: 'I am also determined that we seize the economic opportunities in renewable energy supply chains' and in May 2010 of wanting to be 'the greenest government ever'. UKIP oppose wind farms, both onshore and offshore, because they are ugly, expensive and inefficient."
Also Commenting on the announcement, Greenpeace UK energy campaigner Louise Hutchins said: “This disastrous policy risks undermining our energy security, putting up bills, and hampering efforts to slash carbon emissions. Cutting incentives for wind power when we’re trying to reduce our reliance on energy imports is tantamount to self-sabotage – our suppliers of costly, polluting fossil fuels, including Putin, will be rubbing their hands.
“UN scientists have just warned about the risks of climate change and the need for a massive clean energy shift, yet the Tory right wing seems to think this is happening on a different planet. The hypocrisy is stunning. Our binding commitments on renewable energy will have to be met in the next Parliament, so excluding the cheapest source of clean energy can only drive up bills more than necessary. The Tories claim to be on the side of hard-working families, yet their pandering to a small minority who don’t like wind farms is raising energy costs for the rest of us.”
