Onshore Wind Development Collapses As Subsidies End

By Paul Homewood

h/t Patsy Lacey

From the Independent:

The government failed to consider the climate or the economic costs of a policy change that contributed to the collapse of onshore wind in the UK.

Planning applications for new onshore wind developments have plummeted by 94 per cent since the introduction of new policies governing their construction in 2015.

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information rules for The Independent by Christine Ottery at DeSmog UK and environmental group 10:10 Climate Action have revealed the government did not conduct relevant impact assessments before implementing these changes.

They found no assessments had been made of how the new policies would affect carbon emissions, despite the key role onshore wind is thought to have in transitioning to a greener energy system and meeting climate targets.

There was also no detailed assessment of how policies would affect the future of the nation’s wind industry, or consumers’ fuel bills.

Instead, the only impact assessments that were carried out were into the effect of such policies on equality and “the strength of family relationships” in local communities.

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest and most efficient sources of renewable electricity, and surveys show most British people support it.

“This is a shocking revelation,” said Caroline Lucas, MP and co-leader of the Green Party.

“For no assessment to be made in relation to the impact on the industry really does expose the government’s contempt for onshore wind, and their utter unwillingness to see reason.

“We know that ministers are more motivated by a small cabal of their own backbenchers than the evidence on this issue – and their failure here underlines this.”

Alan Whitehead, Labour’s shadow minister for energy and climate change, said the lack of impact assessments showed “a shocking display of poor governance”.

“This ill-considered action has thrown away a strong British industry of the future and potentially increased energy prices by effectively outlawing the cheapest form of clean energy in the country today,” he said.

The government action in 2015 was part of a wider strategy aimed at giving communities more say in where wind turbines can be built.

The policy change came after a group of more than 100 MPs wrote an open letter to David Cameron calling for him to remove support for “inefficient and intermittent” onshore wind.

Under the new rules, onshore wind developments were only allowed to proceed in areas designated suitable by local authorities.

There was also a transfer of power from the government’s energy and climate change department to what is now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

While onshore wind has not been banned outright, these policy changes, combined with the withdrawal of subsidies, have been described by experts as an “effective ban” due to the block they put on new projects.

Historically, new wind projects were reliant on government subsidies. Following the 2015 general election the Conservatives made a manifesto promise of “no subsidies” for new operations, effectively stifling the industry.

However, wind farm technology has now progressed to the extent that many onshore wind farms being built across Europe are set to be subsidy-free.

Industry experts see onshore wind as playing a key role in the UK transitioning to a greener future.

“It’s the cheapest option for new power in the UK, and in the 2020s we have to procure very large amounts of new power to replace very large amounts of power that is going offline and to meet our carbon budget,” said Luke Clark, director of external affairs at trade association RenewableUK.

“Given its low-cost nature, onshore wind should certainly have a role to play in meeting those needs.”

In response to the government’s lack of preparation, Dr Jonathan Marshall, energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “This looks like another snap policy decision made in the rush to nix onshore wind that wasn’t really fully considered”.

“In rushing through as many roadblocks to onshore wind as possible, the government knackered the industry, as we have seen in the years since.”

Analysis by ECIU has revealed that policies blocking the development of onshore wind could add £1bn to the UK’s energy bills over five years.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/environmental-impact-policies-led-collapse-112611228.html

As I have been pointing out for the last few months, new onshore wind developments have plummeted to virtually zero since subsidies were withdrawn in 2016. This proves for once and for all that onshore wind is nowhere near to being viable without the generous subsidies and guarantees previously handed out.

As for the claim that wind farm technology has now progressed to the extent that many onshore wind farms being built across Europe are set to be subsidy-free, the dearth of new investment reveals this to be just more lies from the renewable lobby.

The various whingers listed by the Independent might like to consider that the withdrawal of subsidies was a manifesto promise by the Conservatives at the 2015 election. Apparently Caroline Lucas and co don’t believe in democracy. They would rather force their eco-nonsense down people’s throats, whether they like it or not.

As for the ECIU’s newfound concern about energy bills, I wonder why they never seem to mention the fact that the green policies they espouse are already costing £11.3bn a year, a figure which will inevitably continue to grow for many years to come.