Welsh alliance calls for wind support
29
November, 2017
An alliance of eleven organisations in Wales is today calling for greater UK Government support for onshore wind and solar energy.
The Welsh Government statement by Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, makes clear that Wales has lost out from renewable energy developments by the current UK Government policy direction.
The statement makes clear that onshore wind and solar present superb opportunities to ‘manage the costs’ of generation for householders and businesses, and highlights the difference in funding to Scotland, England and Wales as a result of the focus on offshore wind.
Solar is another technology which has seen policy support change rapidly over recent years
Photograph by Andreas Gücklhorn via Unsplash
Strong alliance in Wales calls for more @govuk support for onshore wind & solar https://t.co/kxaR77kDVr @WelshGovernment @NTWales @IWA_Wales @clawales @CommEnergyWales @centre_alt_tech @NatResWales @WelshLGA @AwelAmanTawe @thesiriusgroup @Renewableuk pic.twitter.com/EW4dOR9AVG
— David Clubb (@davidoclubb) November 29, 2017
The call for greater UK Government support from Wales comes as the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, Claire Perry, delivers the keynote speech at a Green Alliance trade event. Yesterday the Minister was present at a Select Committee hearing where she was questioned on the role which onshore wind plays in the energy mix.
Commenting on the statement, David Clubb said:
“The signatories of the public statement represent a broad alliance which includes the land-based trade sectors, renewable energy companies, community energy organisations and think-tanks.
“There is a growing awareness amongst participants in civil society that onshore wind and solar are two crucial elements in our current energy system, and that we need to take advantage of their low cost and rapid deployability in order to maximise our chances of mitigating climate change whilst boosting Wales’ economy.”
“The voice from Wales is clear and united; onshore wind is a crucial tool in rural development and our energy infrastructure”
The eleven signatories are:
- Welsh Government
- RenewableUK
- CLA
- National Trust
- Institute of Welsh Affairs
- Community Energy Wales
- Centre for Alternative Technology
- Natural Resources Wales
- Welsh Local Government Association
- Awel Aman Tawe
- The Sirius Group