Sunak U-turn on wind farms in England

[AE-NMidlands]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... GTUK_email:

Rishi Sunak is facing mounting criticism for putting politics above the fight against climate change, amid clear signs that ministers are backtracking on plans to allow more onshore windfarms in England before a general election.

The Observer understands that a much-vaunted government consultation on ending what has in effect been a ban on new onshore wind projects will lead to a minimal relaxation of planning rules – because ministers do not want to anger potential Tory voters who oppose huge wind turbines in their neighbourhoods.

On Saturday night – as the Conservative party threatened to split over green policy – the former Tory environment secretary and outgoing chair of the climate change committee, Lord Deben, said it was simply unacceptable that the government was still discussing whether it was in favour of onshore wind or not when it was widely recognised as one of the cheapest forms of energy generation. The danger was also that UK industry would lose out in the resulting green industrial revolution for renewable energy to the US, China and the EU.

Deben, who is retiring this weekend after 11 years as chair of the committee that officially advises government, told the Observer: “It is unacceptable to have spent so much time discussing something which should be immediate for government. Why we need to go through all this palaver [of consulting] I am not sure.

“In effect we have stopped onshore wind. Having a basic opposition to it is just not a sensible thing.”

They don't live in the same world as the rest of us, do they? Hopefully it will be the last straw for some voters and the govt. will have signed their own death warrant with this.

[Mart]

Estimates of lost on shore capacity since the policy changes ~2015, albeit from the Labour Party, are approx 7GW. Taking capacity factors into account, that's probably equal to about 5% of UK annual generation.

Probably lost out on about 5-10GWp of demand side PV too, so another 2%(ish).

Heartbreaking, truely heartbreaking.

[Mr Gus]

With utmost seriousness, that 5+ percent would have really made a difference to our overall situation in recent times, hopefully someone will be able to model what we lost (emissions savings, prices etc) as a result of tory effwittery, ..didn't help them much now the faithful are fleeing, presumably sunak is doing this in sheer bloody determination to scrape a few votes back from a new audience (previously determinedly ignored) rather than any actual green, renewables, low carbon price stabilisation effort.

In other A-hole news (& on the fliside) Labour kicking out a 44 year standing member https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... witch-hunt
Only makes thing harder to vote, ..& they wonder why we hate them so.

[Mart]

Hi Gus, take with a pinch of salt, but I recalled an article on that very issue in early 2022. I've tracked it down and it suggests bills are £150pa higher than they would have been if those RE deployment/energy efficiency cuts hadn't taken place.

Worth remembering that the impact on prices is two fold, not only would more RE generation mean buying less gas generation, but also any reduction in demand for gas in Europe, would (at any point in time) result in a slightly lower peak price. So gas would be slightly lower, but I stress 'slightly' lower, as we had a huge shortfall in supply.



Cameron’s decision to cut ‘green crap’ now costs each household in England £150 a year

The decision by David Cameron’s government to ditch what he denounced as “green crap” policies will cost every household as much as £150 a year by the autumn, new analysis has shown.

With energy prices already soaring and bills set to rise even further this year, it suggests Cameron’s decisions to effectively end onshore wind projects in England, cut solar subsidies and slash energy-efficiency schemes played a large part in rising bills. It comes with the government preparing to announce its much anticipated energy strategy this week, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine further drives up energy prices. It is expected to push measures such as solar and onshore wind power generation, as well as North Sea oil projects. However, there are concerns that the Treasury is holding back more radical action.

Many of this week’s measures could reverse action taken by the coalition government. Analysis by Carbon Brief looked at the cumulative effect of ending onshore wind subsidies, cutting energy efficiency funding and scrapping a programme to make all new homes carbon neutral. It also factored in cuts to solar energy subsidies.

You may find the fact that over a year ago there were plans to 'push onshore wind generation' very funny, and by funny, I mean heartbreaking, again.

Oh, btw, whilst only a milestone, that extra 5% may well have pushed RE over 50% by now, and that is a milestone I've been impatiently looking forward to.

[Mr Gus]

Where that pushing us over 50% is though mart is a bloody big marker point of acceptance within society that renewables do work, & do generate considerable amounts of what we need (& the subsequent gutter / misinformed press in the process) ..so I think it really is a big deal overall.

Just like the acceptance of BEV when figures are examined (by the likes of the press) & what makes it into print ..& eventually public perception.

How many of the top gear trio of presenters (let alone the new breed) that borrowed a WT to film the roadster being pushed back into the hangar from "allegedly" running out of juice now own BEVs or at least admit they are ***in capable ?

(I'd like to see the 3 ass-migo's revisiting that piece & coming clean as a retrospective piece, wonder what they'd say now)?