10 Downing St Petition

This is the No 10 Downing St petition asking for a review of the noise
Regulation ESTU – http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ETSU-R97Failings/

Changes in Energy Policies

Early in 2009  the power companies E.On and EDF advised the Government that both companies are wanting to concentrate more on nuclear power development in UK and far less on wind power. These statements were echoed a little later by Centrica and npower. The latter two companies further admitted increasing concerns on the rising cost of wind power, Centrica with a proposed off shore site in the North Sea, suggest the RO (Renewable Obligation) subsidy should be increased to cover these increasing costs.  npower are, it is reported, having second thoughts of going ahead with a £2.2billion off shore wind project off north Wales.

The oil companies, Shell and BP are also pulling out of wind investment in Europe. BP, it said in the same report, is also pulling out of solar photovoltaics as well.

The Spanish owners of Scottish Power have also intimated a cut back in wind turbine investment in UK

Between them these major power companies have a lot of practical experience of power generation with different technologies. They are also direct suppliers of energy to the consumer. E.On and EDF advised in their report that the electricity output from wind turbines during the winter was very low and both companies had concerns on maintaining reliable power supplies to the National Grid in low wind conditions.

More recently we noticed the Chancellor’s budget speech made a passing mention to off shore windfarms but not to turbines on land. The Government is, however, allowing several coal fuelled power stations to be built with the proviso of Carbon capture technology is developed for these sites. This has not been done before on this scale.

Effects of Wind Energy slowdown?

There are further signs of pressure against wind power development. A wind turbine manufacturer in the USA has had to lay off workers due to a big drop in orders. Very recently, in April, an Isle of Wight firm manufacturing wind turbine blades for export is closing. It had geared up further expansion to cater for many more wind turbines in UK in the light of the UK Government windfarm expansion statements. The opposite has happened and the company management cited ‘nimbyism’ and planning refusals for the lack of orders.

Energy Company split?

It is apparent the big power companies are losing their enthusiasm for wind power. However the smaller investment groups like Ecotricity, Cornwall Power and Light, the Co-op et al, are still pushing hard. They stand to make large profits from the RO subsidy without having the responsibility of having to maintain back up electricity supply in low or no wind conditions.

RSPB ‘favours’ wind turbines.

The RSBP, in the media recently, declared they would not object to wind farm development providing the investment companies kept away from wild life areas. This has caused a huge back lash to the charity and the RSBP admitted to CFAG they had many hundreds of calls from people objecting to this decision. Many have asked for their membership money to be returned. We at CFAG have been in direct contact with the spokesperson at the RSPB and invited her to our AGM in June. So far she has declined our invitation. Sadly the RSPB have, like the National Trust, by siding with the power companies, lost their very important neutrality. Both organisations are selling ‘Green’ electricity to make profits for their organisations; the RSPB via Scottish and Southern power and the National Trust through npower. This, by admitting a vested financial interest, should eliminate them, especially the RSPB, as consultees in planning applications for wind farms.

Wind Farm Action Groups’ Associations

Recently there have been moves toward setting up an association in UK to lobby Parliament against wind farms on land. Its primary aim is to put up spokespersons with experience and knowledge to counter the wind industry’s claims in the national media. A similar organisation has been set up in Europe to do exactly the same with the European parliament. CFAG is in contact with both groups and, when it does not conflict of our objectives regarding Cotton Farm, we will broadly support the aims of these groups.