RenewableUK recently announced that Eric Pickles’ interference in 50 onshore wind planning applications had potentially jeopardised projects with a total investment potential of £581m, and putting more than 2,000 jobs at risk.

In decisions which appear strangely at odds with the Conservatives’ desire to be seen as a business-friendly party, projects in England have experienced an additional ‘call-in’ process which culls a significant number of otherwise-approved onshore wind developments.

Not only does this fly in the face of public opinion, which strongly supports onshore wind, but it also runs counter to the professed desire of David Cameron’s desire to fight “against the economically and environmentally perverse fossil fuel subsidies which distort free markets and rip off taxpayers“.

David Clubb, Director of RenewableUK Cymru said:

“Given the extreme lengths to which the Prime Minister went to persuade Scottish voters of the benefits of being part of the UK, Eric Pickles’ antics seem to be making the opposite case in terms of devolved powers for Wales. Mr. Pickles may well be the number one recruiting sergeant for  the cause of devolution of energy powers at a senior management level in renewable energy companies.”