The trade body urged the prime minister to get a “firmer grip” on energy policy after energy minister John Hayes repeated his view last night on Channel 4 News that no more applications for onshore windfarms should enter the planning system, despite being told by energy secretary Ed Davey that his views did not represent government policy.
RenewableUK deputy chief executive Maf Smith said: “The energy minister’s comments risk undermining investor confidence, jeopardising much-needed renewable energy projects and the many thousands of jobs they would create throughout the UK. This is a deliberate attempt to recklessly rewrite coalition policy just before the most significant government intervention in the energy markets for a generation – the publication of the Energy Bill later this month.”
Hayes comments were followed this morning by the revelation that Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris helped Telegraph columnist James Delingpole campaign against his own party in the Corby by-election in an attempt to force anti-windfarm policies up the political agenda.
“It beggars belief that such behaviour should pass unnoticed by his leader.” Smith said. “It is now critical that Mr Cameron stops this policy brinkmanship and sends a clear message to all investors that his government is absolutely committed to providing stability for the entire energy sector – otherwise investment could be lost in all forms of power generation – not just in renewables. On matters as crucial as keeping the lights on and homes warm while tackling climate change, we cannot afford to play ‘push-me-pull-you’ politics.”