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Large onshore wind farm approved for Lincolnshire Large onshore windfarm approved for Lincolnshire
(35 minutes later)
Ed Davey, the energy and climate change secretary, has given the green light to a huge wind farm right next door to the constituency of his turbine-phobic colleague, John Hayes. Ed Davey, the energy and climate change secretary, has given the green light to a huge windfarm right next door to the constituency of his turbine-phobic colleague, John Hayes.
Up to 22 turbines are to be erected at Heckington Fen in Lincolnshire, just north of Hayes' constituency, making it the fourth largest onshore wind farm in the UK, according to developer, Ecotricity. Up to 22 turbines are to be erected at Heckington Fen in Lincolnshire, just north of Hayes' constituency, making it the fourth largest onshore windfarm in the UK, according to developer, Ecotricity.
Davey, a Lib Dem MP who has always been supportive of renewable energy, has consistently been embarrassed by Hayes, the new energy minister and Conservative MP for South Holland, and a growing anti-wind power movement in some parts of the coalition.Davey, a Lib Dem MP who has always been supportive of renewable energy, has consistently been embarrassed by Hayes, the new energy minister and Conservative MP for South Holland, and a growing anti-wind power movement in some parts of the coalition.
It is already difficult to win planning permission for onshore wind farms, particularly in Lincolnshire where the Conservative-run county council has introduced tough new hurdles for turbine schemes. It is already difficult to win planning permission for onshore windfarms, particularly in Lincolnshire, where the Conservative-run county council has introduced tough hurdles for turbine schemes.
Hayes, who took the energy portfolio last autumn, has complained that too many wind turbines have been "peppered" across the UK without enough consideration for the countryside and people's homes, adding that "enough is enough".Hayes, who took the energy portfolio last autumn, has complained that too many wind turbines have been "peppered" across the UK without enough consideration for the countryside and people's homes, adding that "enough is enough".
"We can no longer have wind turbines imposed on communities. I can't single-handedly build a new Jerusalem but I can protect our green and pleasant land," he said in one media interview. "We can no longer have wind turbines imposed on communities. I can't single-handedly build a new Jerusalem but I can protect our green and pleasant land," he said in an interview.
Linconshire county council explained on its website why new guidelines for wind farms were needed, saying "although supportive of alternative energy, councillors questioned the efficiency of turbines and their impact on the county's residents, landscapes and tourism industry". Linconshire county council explained on its website why new guidelines for windfarms were needed, saying "although supportive of alternative energy, councillors questioned the efficiency of turbines and their impact on the county's residents, landscapes and tourism industry".
More than 100 Conservative backbenchers wrote to David Cameron earlier this year, calling on him to scale back subsidies to onshore wind farms on the grounds they were an eyesore and economically inefficient. More than 100 Conservative backbenchers wrote to David Cameron earlier this year, calling on him to scale back subsidies to onshore windfarms, on the grounds they were an eyesore and economically inefficient.
Their letter was followed up by a rash of comments from the chancellor, George Osborne, about the dangers of Britain moving faster on "green" energy than competitors in Europe resulting in UK industry facing higher costs. Their letter was followed up by a rash of comments from the chancellor, George Osborne, about the dangers of Britain moving faster on "green" energy than competitors in Europe, resulting in the UK industry facing higher costs.
A Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) spokesman declined to comment on Hayes's thoughts about the Heckington Fen project, saying simply that it was not a decision for him to take.A Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) spokesman declined to comment on Hayes's thoughts about the Heckington Fen project, saying simply that it was not a decision for him to take.
"Onshore wind has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. This development will enhance our energy security and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the spokesman said. "Onshore wind has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. This development will enhance our energy security and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the spokesman added.
Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, said: "We're grateful to the secretary of state for his decision in the face of considerable political hot air right now on the subject of windmills, and we'd also like to thank the many people in the local community that wrote letters of support for the project.Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, said: "We're grateful to the secretary of state for his decision in the face of considerable political hot air right now on the subject of windmills, and we'd also like to thank the many people in the local community that wrote letters of support for the project.
"Heck Fen will make a significant contribution to Britain's energy supply, powering the equivalent of almost 40,000 homes for the next 25 years and will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, which are the primary source of the Britain's carbon emissions.""Heck Fen will make a significant contribution to Britain's energy supply, powering the equivalent of almost 40,000 homes for the next 25 years and will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, which are the primary source of the Britain's carbon emissions."
Earlier this week the DECC showed its determination to plough ahead with wind schemes when it invested £50m in a fund buying equity stakes in six onshore and offshore projects. Earlier this week, the DECC showed its determination to plough ahead with wind schemes when it invested £50m in a fund buying equity stakes in six projects, both onshore and offshore.
Hayes's supporters pointed out that although the energy minister was concerned about onshore wind farms, his comments about there being enough took into account those already in the planning process such as the Ecotricity one. Hayes's supporters pointed out that although the energy minister was concerned about onshore windfarms, his comments about there being enough took into account those already in the planning process such as the Ecotricity scheme.
Meanwhile the wind campaign group, RenewableUK, has welcomed the tabling of an amendment to the energy bill which would require the government to set a controversial decarbonisation target for the power sector in April 2014 rather than 2016 as is currently envisaged.
The change was put forward by the Conservative MP, Tim Yeo, who chairs the energy and climate change select committee, and the Labour MP Barry Gardiner, the party's climate change envoy and a member of the same committee.
Jennifer Webber, a director at RenewableUK, said:"We welcome the fact that this crucial amendment has been put forward by two senior figures, from both Conservative and Labour sides. Setting a decarbonisation target for 2030 as early as possible is vital if we are to attract long term investment into the UK's energy sector."