UK Government Supports Onshore Wind

Onshore wind turbines have been under fire recently, as Conservative MPs put their names to a letter demanding less support from the Government. In the letter sent to the Prime Minister's office last week, the MPs say that they are becoming "more and more concerned" about the government's “support for onshore wind energy production”. They want subsidy levels reduced and changes to the proposed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

A Downing Street spokesman stated in response: "We need a low carbon infrastructure, and onshore wind is a cost effective and valuable part of the diverse energy mix. The Government has commissioned a review of subsidy levels and we are proposing a cut for onshore wind subsidies to take into account the fact that costs are coming down. We are committed to giving local communities the power to shape the spaces in which they live and are getting rid of regional targets introduced by the last government."

The Prime Minister's response is clearly not overwhelmingly supportive of onshore wind, but it is at least recognising that community involvement in wind projects is a vital ingredient in making these schemes more popular.

You can also read Renewable UK's press release, also mentioning an important YouGov poll: Wind energy has widespread public support and offers value for money.