Northamptonshire MP leads bid against wind farm subsidies
MORE than 100 MPs have signed a letter urging the Prime Minister to slash subsidies given to wind farm developers.
Conservative MP for Daventry, Chris Heaton-Harris, believes a cut would dramatically reduce the high volume of wind farm applications in Northamptonshire.
Mr Heaton-Harris’s letter, which has been signed by 106 MPs, including 101 Conservatives, also put pressure on David Cameron to give local people more influence to stop developments being built.
He said concern over wind farms was one of the biggest issues in his constituency, and said: “There would be a dramatic reduction in new wind farm applications in Northamptonshire. It’s one of the least windy places in the country.
“A large chunk of the subsidies is paid on energy production and we wouldn’t be producing that amount of energy.”
Although the letter does not mention a figure, Mr Heaton-Harris said he would like to see the subsidies reduced “dramatically.”
The MP also argued more weight should be given to landscape and heritage issues when deciding applications.
In the letter, Mr Heaton-Harris said MPs had grown “more and more concerned” about the Government’s policy of support for on-shore wind energy production.
He said: “In these financially-straightened times, we think it is unwise to make consumers pay, through taxpayer subsidy, for inefficient and intermittent energy production that typifies on-shore wind turbines.
“We also are worried that the new National Planning Policy Framework, in its current form, diminishes the chances of local people defeating unwanted on-shore wind farm proposals through the planning system.”
Environment secretary Ed Davey, promoted after Chris Huhne’s resignation, was dismissive of the revolt.
He said: “I’ve been a life-long supporter of renewables and wind power and I’m not going to change now.
“I think onshore and offshore wind power has a real place in a balanced mix of energy generation.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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Comments
There are 18 comments to this article
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Finker
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 07:30 PMBris, both those options use fuel dug out of the ground. Many of the coal fired power stations ran out of coal due to strikes - nothing is ever certain.
Bris
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 06:44 PM#2. Mack80. Please go away and find out a little about wind power generation. National Grid say that even if we build the tens of thousands of turbines that are currently planned (unlikely to happen because it would result in the export of what remains of our energy intensive industries and crippling fuel poverty) we still need some 30.5GW of NEW nuclear and 36GW of NEW gas-fuelled generating capacity. (See NG 'Seven year statement 2010' or the 2011 edition, both available on the NG website: www.nationalgrid.com). However many turbines we build we still need reliable, baseload generating capacity. One of the reasons why is the complete failure of wind power during periods of peak winter load. For example, at peak load on 6 February when demand was over 56,000MW, the entire metered wind fleet (4,006MW of capacity), onshore and offshore, was producing precisely 36MW, the headline capacity of 12 Vestas V90 turbines.
climateworrier
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:55 PMWhy are the pro-wind lobby misrepresenting this letter? It only recommends that the current excessive subsidies for on-shore wind should be reduced and the money saved put into other renewables. That does not stop windfarms, it just cuts the obscene profits that developers are making. This proposal would actually mean MORE renewables but less money for the "green" energy barons who are making 15% returns on their investments (4 times that deemed sufficient for you and me installing solar panels) while raping our county. The opposition are either working in the wind industry or just too gullible to see what is happening.
Northants girl
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:25 PMWe should be applauding Chris Heaton Harris for trying to do something about a real problem for Northamptonshire. With 103 turbines either constructed or proposed within 15 miles of Crick we are becoming a wind farm county. And this is ludicrous given that we have some of the lowest wind speeds in the country. I say good for CHH for sticking up for local residents many of whom face misery with 125m turbines only yards from their front windows and are fighting greedy landowners.
SPWAG
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:57 PMChris Heaton-Harris and the MPs who signed his letter are representing the views of their constituents - like it or not that is fact because there is 95% opposition in areas near proposed sites. Wind farms are often planned for rural areas - which have a value beyond economics which will be apparent to anyone who has ventured out to take in the countryside for themselves. I wonder what outcry there may be if a wind farm was planned for a built-up area - something that planning policy would allow - but suspect there would be greater opposition due to population density. Wind farms do nothing to enhance the countryside; they are visually intrusive and out of scale with natural features including heritage buildings, they generate noise which may travel several miles - being especially intrusive as there is little background noise in rural areas generally; ecology and wildlife are killed and injured from the operation of wind turbines as well as during the construction phase. Recreational amenity is harmed where those who ride horses are concerned - since the turbines spook some horses and can make riding dangerous. Yes, wind turbines generate some electricity, but are typically only 20%-25% efficient onshore; the wind isn't always blowing and so back-up generation is required, all the time, of a type that is not especially efficient at ramping updown. Studies have shown that wind farms result in a net increase in CO2 emissions for this reason. As tax payers and energy bill payers, many do not wish to contribute to this questionable power source that actually doesn't solve the problem it was set out to do - which is why a number of countries have shelved onshore wind and axed subsidies. Mr Heaton-Harris is doing us all a favour by expediting this shutdown of subsidies for a technology that is not best suited to Northamptonshire and many other places onshore; subsidies that would be better spent on alternatives. www.SPWAG.co.uk
Removed by moderator
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:02 PMAnd while we are at it can we get rid of these solar panels that are springing up on so many roofs? Your hamster could generate more electricity by running around on its wheel. Dark in winter and freezing cold, no power generated. Hot summer day, not wanted. This will not put off the sandal wearing beardies though. The men are no better.
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:59 AMThanks for that advice Mrs lady-muck.
lady muck
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:49 AMAs a general rule, never trust anybody with a double-barrelled name.
mack80
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:06 AMMr.Chris.Heaton-Harris M.P now tell us where your power supplies would come from ?? we have nuclear sites around the world that have created massive problems,we have problems on where the waste will be disposed of in sites around the UK that will be there for our future Generations to worry about buried in the ground, Coal stations are being phased out and more power is going to be needed with the ever increasing population in the UK
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:27 AMCommon sense - I agree with you there. Have a look at the this MPs voting record at: http:www.theyworkforyou.commpchris_heaton-harrisdaventry Voted for automatic enrolment in occupational pensions. Voted very strongly for encouraging occupational pensions. Voted strongly for more EU integration. Voted for replacing Trident. Voted very strongly for university tuition fees. Voted for raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year. Voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws. Voted very strongly for increasing the rate of VAT. Voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs. Has never voted on a smoking ban. Voted very strongly for greater autonomy for schools. I want my MP to vote against all of this !!!! My favorite is "Voted very strongly for increasing the rate of VAT. "....Thanks a bunch!!!! Also...."House in Lincoln, from which rental income is received. Register last updated: 13 Jan 2012. More about the Register" Does he not own a house in the constituency he is meant to represent ? I voted tory in the last election I will not do so again.
Common sense
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:17 AMWhat is this MP doing for Northamptonshire--its economy, its young people, employment, job and wealth creation? The answer I suspect is nothing. He cannot be taken seriously. All he's doing is grand standing to the landed gentry and villagers
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:20 AMe-petition - 22958 "We do not want any more onshore wind turbinesfarms in Norfolk or elsewhere in the UK." - Number of signatures:2,727. It would appear people do want wind farms, 2727 signatures is tiny for an e-petition. I for one am all in favor. Cheap clean fuel, the turbines are a thing of beauty and we should have them dotted all over the country.
Finker
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:17 AMSetting something up always requires extra money at the start so it then can be refined and developed - it is called investment. Most things we take for granted today such as cars, planes, computers and electricity didn't work at all well at the start.
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:04 AMP.S. The renewable energy industry is about the only one we should be subsidising. Does Mr Heaton Harris and his voters all live int he country where it is likely that wind farms are built ? Is this for our benefit or his ?
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:03 AMWill the MP be supporting the removal of subsides to all industry, such as the train companies, the car industry and the banks ?
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