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Row over renewable energy scheme Cuts 'funding' wind turbine drive
(about 3 hours later)
A renewable energy scheme is being funded by cuts from other environmental projects, it has been claimed. A £10m drive to add wind turbines to public sites and to promote renewable energy is being funded by cuts to other green projects, it has been claimed.
At the Labour conference, Environment Secretary David Miliband promised £10m to help fund projects like wind power. The Partnership for Renewables scheme will work with private firms to put the turbines on sites such as hospitals.
But he has been accused of cutting other schemes to promote double-glazing and insulation, in order to fund it. But the Lib Dems and the Energy Savings Trust say money from insulation and double-glazing schemes will pay for it.
A Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokeswoman said the £10m had never been allocated to any specific projects. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the sum was never allocated to a specific project.
'Massive blow' At the Labour conference, Environment Secretary David Miliband promised £10m to help fund projects such as wind power.
A spokesman for the government-funded Energy Savings Trust told the BBC the funding move was a "massive blow" to energy saving projects in the UK. Mr Miliband said similar schemes on local authority land were being held back, because public and private investors were not working together.
This is outrageous. Both energy efficiency and greater use of renewables are crucial to combating climate change David Howarth MP
But a spokesman for the government-funded Energy Savings Trust said it was disappointed to discover it was not an extra £10m, but part of money already announced in the budget.
"On three separate occasions, the government outlined that the £20m would be spent on energy efficiency programmes directed at the home owner," he said.
"But it would appear that £10m of it is now being reallocated to the Partnership for Renewables."
'Effective hierarchy'
He added: "Whilst we recognise that local authorities have a potential role in promoting large renewable energy, it is proven that the biggest impact they can have is through promoting energy efficiency in the home.
"This is the most effective hierarchy. Make homes energy efficient first and then look to renewable energy."
BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said industry experts had gone even further in their criticism of the cuts.BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said industry experts had gone even further in their criticism of the cuts.
They say there is little point putting wind farms up in hospitals when they are providing energy that will be wasted in badly-insulated buildings, she said. They claim there is little point putting wind farms up in hospitals when they are providing energy that will be wasted in badly-insulated buildings, our correspondent said.
A review published in July said public planning enquiries for wind farms were taking too long, and did not always give sufficient priority to the nation's interest. Liberal Democrat energy spokesman David Howarth accused the government of "robbing Peter to pay Paul".
Energy efficiency is an integral element of the UK's strong domestic programme to tackle climate change Defra spokeswoman He added: "This is outrageous. Both energy efficiency and greater use of renewables are crucial to combating climate change."
Mr Miliband said projects for renewable energy - like wind power - on local authority land were being held back, because public and private investment were not working together. A Defra spokeswoman said the money had not previously been allocated to any specific scheme.
On Friday a Defra spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the £10m announced for the Partnership for Renewables was not previously allocated to specific projects or schemes. " She added: "Energy efficiency is an integral element of the UK's strong domestic programme to tackle climate change.
She said the money formed part of £20m over two years announced in the 2006 Budget to help councils work with energy companies. "Around 10m British households have benefited from energy saving measures as part of the first phase of the Energy Efficiency Commitment, which will help to reduce fuel bills."
"Energy efficiency is an integral element of the UK's strong domestic programme to tackle climate change.
"Around 10 million British households have benefited from energy saving measures as part of the first phase of the Energy Efficiency Commitment, which will help to reduce fuel bills," she said.
"The next phases of the scheme will lead to even higher carbon savings from the scheme."