Wirral MEP backs calls for reduction in wind farm subsidy

Wirral MEP backs petition calling for reduction in wind farm subsidy Wirral MEP backs petition calling for reduction in wind farm subsidy

WIRRAL MEP Paul Nuttall has lent his support to a national petition calling for a reduction in wind farm subsidies.

The organisers hope to attract the necessary 100,000 signatures for it to be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

Mr Nuttall said: "I have happily signed this petition organised by one of my constituents, John Hatt, and hope that it will soon reach the target number of signatures.

"The wind farm industry is a big con which makes money for investors at the expense of our electricity bills.

“It is not, and never will be, a cost effective way of producing energy and meanwhile our countryside and seas are being blighted in a headlong rush to meet ridiculous EU targets.

"If subsidies for wind farms were significantly cut we would soon see the applications for them dramatically drop.

“As the petition states increases in electricity punishes the six million people already in fuel poverty, restricts economic growth and makes British industry less competitive.

"Climate-change policies have already increased household electricity by at least 14%, and have increased the electricity bills of business by at least 20% and these tariffs are forecast to escalate.

"The UK already has the third highest energy prices for a major economy, after Italy & Japan, and the highest “green” cost component.

"We obviously need to plans to meet our energy needs but these should involve shale gas and nuclear power not useless wind farms,"

The address for the petition is http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22704

Comments(11)

antisthenes says...
5:52pm Wed 15 Aug 12

Mr Nutall is mistaken in attributing the hike in electricity charges wholly to eco-subsidies / inefficencies of wind generation.

The deregulation of the electricity industry did not produce the consumer gains that were the original base case underpinning privatisation.

Ultimately the energy industry privateers including those owned by overseas companies have, as a result of the deliberate complication of consumer pricing tarrifs and light touch govenrment regulation, been ripping off the public for nealy two decades.

The issue of sustainable energy generation can not be conflated with the issue of overpricing and its important to recognise that nuclear generation was massively subsidised as was coal and gas with these publically funded assets being hived off to the private sector at knock down prices.

In the process providing the capital base for generating vast profit for private shareholders who have lined their pockets at the expense of all of us and in particular the most vulnerable who live in fuel poverty.

On the subject of poverty perhaps Mr Nutall would like to explain to the industrious workforce at Lairds, his constituents, who are currently gainfully employed in building wind turbines where their next paycheck might be coming from if his policies were implemented?

Somewhere in his argument there are relevant issues that need to be addressed ; however I fear that Mr Nutall is engaging in a spot of crude eco-bashing rather than promoting a focused debate on the future of energy production; which will be a mixed economy where renewable generation will play a relevant part.

bigfoot says...
9:13pm Wed 15 Aug 12

The builders of the new farm is Danish Oil and Natural Gas a Danish state owned company,like we used to have before the sell off,in fact the majority of our utility companies are now owned by foreign state companies.
There is little output for wind power it has to be the right kind of wind and yet tidal power has been totally ignored.
Also the 'feed in' tariff paid to owners of solar panels is subsidised by regular consumers.

LocaLGovwatcher says...
10:48pm Wed 15 Aug 12

Well done, Paul Nuttall. Wind turbines are the biggest con ever. Incidentally, Nick Clegg's Spanish wife gets paid a hugh retainer for being a legal advisor to the board of one of these wind power companies. Vested interest me thinks!

Wirral_Man says...
9:18am Thu 16 Aug 12

LocaLGovwatcher

What's the nationality of Mrs Clegg got to do with the price of fish?

Wind Power might be expensive and still have a way to go but it is the only sensible renewable option currently - tidal is biblically expensive and not really proven as is wave power.

Ignoring the Carbon argument - this country needs to be energy independant not possibly held to ransom in the future for foreign gas/coal/oil supplies.

Nuttal is hilarious though if there's a bandwagon he's clinging onto the back of it!

LocaLGovwatcher says...
10:44am Thu 16 Aug 12

Wirral_Man wrote:
LocaLGovwatcher

What's the nationality of Mrs Clegg got to do with the price of fish?

Wind Power might be expensive and still have a way to go but it is the only sensible renewable option currently - tidal is biblically expensive and not really proven as is wave power.

Ignoring the Carbon argument - this country needs to be energy independant not possibly held to ransom in the future for foreign gas/coal/oil supplies.

Nuttal is hilarious though if there's a bandwagon he's clinging onto the back of it!
Mrs Clegg's nationality was mentioned to show Nick Clegg's marital connection with the EU. He's also a former MEP. Do I have to spell it out further.

Wind power is an EU initiative and responsible for an additional charge to our energy bills.

As for Paul Nuttall, he's a rare breed of politician who actually cares and fights for the North West - what's hilarious about that?

Positive thinker says...
10:10pm Thu 16 Aug 12

Only met Mr Nuttal once,I can't believe
for a minute anyone could take the man
serious

David Scott says...
10:14pm Fri 17 Aug 12

Even in Denmark wind generation is falling from favour.
http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/worldnew
s/europe/denmark/799
6606/An-ill-wind-blo
ws-for-Denmarks-gree
n-energy-revolution.
html

bickyboy says...
11:18am Sat 18 Aug 12

Whatever one thinks of Paul Nuttall, his constant communication with the local Press lends him a profile that most MEPs (and MPs too) can only dream of. He stimulates debate on a regular basis, and whatever you think of his personal opinions, IMO that can't be a bad thing. It strikes me that much of the criticism of him is simply sour grapes from others who either can't match his output, or who resent his ability to persuade newspaper editors print his letters whenever he chooses.

Nick Griffin is a North West MEP, isn't he? When's the last time he said anything that was deemed worthy of publication?

ordinary personn says...
4:54pm Sat 18 Aug 12

The local UKIP politicians are hiking up their profile aren't they? I wonder if this is being replicated in local newspapers across the country and if so do they smell the stench of a decomposing coalition and Tory defectors, so are preparing to grab some seats at Westminster?

Wirral_Man says...
9:42am Tue 21 Aug 12

"Nick Griffin is a North West MEP, isn't he? When's the last time he said anything that was deemed worthy of publication?"

Very true, thankfully! When are the next Euro elections so that we can get rid of that excuse for a man!

David Scott says...
10:04am Wed 22 Aug 12

EU/UK policies do not make sense even if you believe in 'anthropogenic global warming'. Studies have shown that the capital costs of wind farms and associated back-up are about 9x as much as just using gas. Wind, with the necessary back-up, produces about as much CO2 as gas on its own.

UK electricity is already amongst the costliest across the world, and a UK government report projects that costs in the UK will increase faster than in any other country, so that by 2020 we will have the highest costs in the world.

We must develop nuclear, and we must develop gas (including shale gas). It takes 12-14 years to build nuclear power stations, but only 3-4 years to build gas power stations, and we are at risk of power-cuts before long.

Wind power is a Sheriff of Nottingham tax – robbing the poor to pay the rich.

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