Why the Conservatives cutting wind farm subsidies is bad news
for the UK
29/06/2015
The G7
Summit of leading world powers have just committed to getting the global
economy off fossil fuels, [1] but that hasn’t stopped the Conservatives cutting
off-shore wind farm subsidies.
The
Conservative Government say their current renewable energy plans will create
250,000 jobs by 2030, [2] with the potential for that number to reach
1,000,000, [3] and just this month a record 43% of British electricity was
provided by renewable energy sources. [4] The arguments for renewable energy
are mounting, so why is it that the Conservatives aren’t interested in properly
committing to clean energy?
Tom Burke, a
former director of Friends of the Earth and now chairman of the E3G sustainable
development charity said “There is nothing good for green energy about the
Tories’ election.”
The
Telegraph claims that ending onshore wind farm subsidies ‘will save hundreds of
millions of pounds’, but once it is acknowledged that onshore wind farms are
far cheaper than coal and gas when factors such as air quality, human toxicity,
and climate change are taken into account according to an EU analysis, it is
clear to see that there is good reason for the UK Government to incentivise
renewable energy. [8]
Others are
concerned that the view from their garden will be disturbed by the sight of a
wind turbine, but what they must understand is that the sight of a wind turbine
from their garden is a dirty coal or nuclear power plant out of the view of someone
else’s; with the added benefit of cheaper bills, drastically reduced
environmental impact, and major economic benefit, [6] the pros certainly do
outweigh the cons:
Just three
wind farms have the potential to generate enough clean energy to power 13% of
all homes in Rugby, with homes within 1.4km of the turbines receiving a £180
annual discount towards their energy bills on top, [5] and the green economy is
currently worth about £128bn a year, employing nearly a million people in
renewable power, energy efficiency, and other industries. [7]
Energy
Secretary Ed Davey has warned that Tory plans to put an effective moratorium on
new onshore wind farms will be "disastrous for business and jobs".
Clean energy
isn’t just about saving the environment and cutting energy bills, it’s also
about the global economy:
We currently
depend on a handful of major powers for our oil supply and if such suppliers
wish to manipulate the global price of oil they can easily do so by increasing
or decreasing their supply to the world. We experienced this last year when
Saudi Arabia increased their oil supply, thus reducing the world’s price of
oil, in a move that harmed Russia and Iran’s economies as they were forced to
reduce their own oil prices in order to keep up with demand. [9]
Switching to
renewable energy instead of importing foreign oil would allow the UK to improve
its energy security and independence with the profit from which being
reinvested into our national economy instead going to OPEC countries’.
Oil, coal,
and other dirty energy sources are finite resources and, as such, can be
monopolised; clean energy sources are renewable and can be obtained by any
nation with the means to do so. If we wish to reduce our dependence on major
powers, we must invest in the Green Revolution.
Renewable energy will supply the majority of Australia’s electricity by
2040 according to predictions by energy analysts [10] and Germany has a target
of 80% by 2050. [11] When is the UK going to step up to the task?
[5] http://www.swift-windfarm.co.uk/news/latest-news/14-april-2014-rugby-people-will-benefit-if-swift-wind-farm-is-approved/
[7] http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/13/tory-pledge-to-end-wind-subsidies-risks-green-economy-say-industry-leaders
By Max Anstey – Rugby Young Green & Rugby Green Party External
Communication Officer
acknowledgements to roy sandison
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