Alan Brown: Onshore wind has been Scotland’s success story, with the Scottish Government still on track to meet 100% of electricity generation coming from renewables. The UK Government are the possible blocker. As we approach the point of zero-subsidy onshore developments, will the Government find a way to allow Scottish onshore developments to bid in the next CfD auction?
Charles Hendry: As a mature, affordable, low carbon technology, using a limitless and indigenous fuel, onshore wind has an important role to play in providing the diverse and secure mix of energy we need to support our economy, and to help protect consumers from the price volatility arising from an overdependence on fossil fuels Onshore wind brings substantial new economic benefits and job opportunities to...
Charles Hendry: Using the findings from Arup (2011)(1), DECC have calculated the cost per MWh of electricity generated by small (5 MW) onshore wind power. (1) Arup (2011), Review of the generation costs and deployment potential of renewable electricity technologies in the UK, can be found at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pnl1_47/pnl1_47.a spx These costs are expected to reduce over time....
Gregory Barker: I find myself very much in agreement with the hon. Gentleman that if onshore wind is discredited the whole renewables agenda will suffer. Is not that the very reason that we must avoid forcing onshore wind into totally inappropriate sites, as the Government are trying to do, such as—to return to it again—Romney marsh?
Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the report by Renewable UK entitled Onshore wind: Direct and Wider Economic Impacts, what assessment he has made of the finding that 10.9 GW of additional wind capacity is required to meet the Government's target for onshore wind. [R]
Chris Heaton-Harris: Obviously I welcome the statement and thank the Secretary of State for it, but does she recognise that the way in which onshore wind subsidies and developers have gone about their business has destroyed people’s faith in renewable energy as a whole? Indeed, in communities such as Winwick, Kelmarsh, Watford and Crick, which are in my constituency, one struggles to find people who support any...
John Hayes: ...no definitive evidence to date of actual negative effects on tourism. A recent report for DECC and RenewableUK by BiGGAR Economics(1) estimated the increase in the turnover of businesses local to onshore wind farm developments. This is available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/ wind/5229-onshore-wind-direct--wider-economic-impacts.pdf I have had no...
Edward Davey: ...)said earlier, taxpayers are often consumers, the subsidies are paid for by consumers when and only when a wind farm produces electricity. There is good value for money for consumers, so I think onshore wind and offshore wind play a really important part in our energy mix. As the hon. Lady knows and as I said in my initial answer, we have reviewed the subsidies going to onshore wind and to...
James Heappey: I accept my hon. Friend’s point to a degree. This is not the end of onshore wind in that onshore wind is not being banned, but is simply being told that it is time to find its own feet and to go it alone, where it can be sited in a permissive planning environment. I regularly drive up the M5 past the onshore wind turbines at Avonmouth, and one might argue that they are entirely reasonable...
Baroness Hayman: ...strategy, the Government confirmed that a mix of renewables would be needed to achieve their 2035 goal of decarbonisation of the power sector through “40GW of offshore wind by 2030, with more onshore, solar, and other renewables”. The strategy also stated that it would: “Ensure the planning system can support the deployment of low carbon energy infrastructure”. The Bill before the...
Lord Crickhowell: ...instinct is that it seems to be on the low side, for the reasons set out by the noble Lord, Lord Elis-Thomas. However, I want to raise another issue, and that is the curious situation in which we find ourselves in the management of onshore wind-powered generating stations. The Energy Act 2016 contains provisions for the transfer of onshore wind out of the Planning Act 2008 development...
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: ...59 seeks to amend Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by removing the obligation to obtain consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to construct, extend or operate an onshore wind farm in England or Wales. To be clear, this requirement relates to new wind farms with a capacity greater than 50 megawatts. Smaller wind farms, including those owned by the community,...
Fergus Ewing: ...are all here not to play politics with the past but to propel progress in the future. To that end, I would just reflect that, when I was energy minister, one of my most frustrating experiences was finding out that it could take 12 years to get consents for an onshore wind farm that it took 12 months to construct. I therefore suggest to the minister that the Scottish Government review the...
Lord Shipley: ...this year that while they are supportive of the development of renewable energy they feel that too many wind farms are being built in Northumberland, which has twice the megawatt consents for onshore wind generation of the nine home counties put together. They have a point; the wind does blow in the home counties. We have to think very carefully, however, about energy security. I do not...
Rhoda Grant: On behalf of the Labour party, I, too, welcome Winnie Ewing back to the chamber—it is good to see her here. It goes without saying that we did not choose the position that we find ourselves in. However, we are where we are and we must protect our fishing industry. I support decommissioning because we must take steps to protect the days at sea that we have secured. The minister stated that...
Julie Elliott: ...and Hyde (Jonathan Reynolds) spoke from the shadow Front Bench against a Bill promoted by the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr Chope) which would remove all subsidies for offshore wind. Today we find ourselves in a similar debate, on a Bill to destroy the UK’s burgeoning onshore wind industry. I think I speak for many Members when I say how much I enjoyed the “Inside the Commons”...
Charles Hendry: ...make use of local accommodation and restaurant facilities. A recent report for DECC and RenewableUK by BiGGAR Economics(2) suggested that in 2011 the increase in the turnover of businesses local to onshore wind farm developments alone, where workers spend money due to being on-site and working away from home, is estimated to be around £11 million. This could support around 300 jobs in the...
Mr Hamish Gray: My right hon. Friend's report to Parliament on the development of the oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom in 1981 estimated future finds at between 775 million and 1,775 million tonnes. Until much more exploration has taken place it is not possible to assess the possible oil-bearing potential of the United Kingdom onshore areas.
Glyn Davies: Does the right hon. Lady accept that in some parts of the country there is massive opposition—overwhelming opposition—to the imposition of onshore wind on the scale proposed and that any Government that do not listen to the people will find that they are not electable?
Alan Brown: Will the Minister confirm that the Secretary of State for Scotland put in writing his objection to onshore wind finding a route to market in Scotland? Why will the Government not release that correspondence in the interests of transparency?