This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7135299.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Huge expansion for wind turbines | Huge expansion for wind turbines |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| There could be more than two offshore wind turbines per mile of UK coastline under plans being set out by ministers. | There could be more than two offshore wind turbines per mile of UK coastline under plans being set out by ministers. |
| Business Secretary John Hutton says he wants to open up British seas to allow enough new turbines - up to 7,000 - to power all UK homes by the year 2020. | Business Secretary John Hutton says he wants to open up British seas to allow enough new turbines - up to 7,000 - to power all UK homes by the year 2020. |
| He acknowledged "it is going to change our coastline", but said the issue of climate change was "not going away". | He acknowledged "it is going to change our coastline", but said the issue of climate change was "not going away". |
| The thrust of the idea was backed by Tory Alan Duncan: "We're an island nation. There's a lot of wind around." | The thrust of the idea was backed by Tory Alan Duncan: "We're an island nation. There's a lot of wind around." |
| Mr Duncan added, on BBC One's Politics Show: "We should use that offshore capacity for generating electricity that's clean and secure. | Mr Duncan added, on BBC One's Politics Show: "We should use that offshore capacity for generating electricity that's clean and secure. |
| "So yes, I think it's inevitable and a good thing that there will be more offshore wind." | "So yes, I think it's inevitable and a good thing that there will be more offshore wind." |
| Self-sufficient' | Self-sufficient' |
| Ministers want 20% of Britain's energy needs to come from renewable energy sources by 2020, and see wind power as a major element of it. | Ministers want 20% of Britain's energy needs to come from renewable energy sources by 2020, and see wind power as a major element of it. |
| Mr Hutton told the Politics Show there would have to be a switch to low carbon energy production to combat the threat of climate change. | Mr Hutton told the Politics Show there would have to be a switch to low carbon energy production to combat the threat of climate change. |
| He also said the UK needed to become more self sufficient in energy terms: "I do not want in 20 years' time to find that whether the lights go on in the morning is down to some foreign government or someone else." | He also said the UK needed to become more self sufficient in energy terms: "I do not want in 20 years' time to find that whether the lights go on in the morning is down to some foreign government or someone else." |
| We've got a choice as a country whether we rise to the challenge... or stick our head in the sand John HuttonBusiness secretary class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3916&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| The announcement on Monday, giving the "green light" for the next stage of offshore wind energy, was part of a long-running process, he added. | The announcement on Monday, giving the "green light" for the next stage of offshore wind energy, was part of a long-running process, he added. |
| Mr Hutton accepted that, as things stood, the amount of energy he hoped to see produced would need 7,000 turbines. | Mr Hutton accepted that, as things stood, the amount of energy he hoped to see produced would need 7,000 turbines. |
| But he would not give a specific figure, saying that the next generation of turbines could be bigger and generate more energy. | But he would not give a specific figure, saying that the next generation of turbines could be bigger and generate more energy. |
| "Offshore wind is a major untapped resource for us," he said. | "Offshore wind is a major untapped resource for us," he said. |
| "It is going to change our coastline, yes for sure. There is no way of making that shift to a low carbon technology without there being change and without that change being visible and evident to people. | "It is going to change our coastline, yes for sure. There is no way of making that shift to a low carbon technology without there being change and without that change being visible and evident to people. |
| "We've got a choice as a country whether we rise to the challenge... or stick our head in the sand and hope it (climate change) goes away. It is not going to go away." | "We've got a choice as a country whether we rise to the challenge... or stick our head in the sand and hope it (climate change) goes away. It is not going to go away." |
| Weather cover | Weather cover |
| The other choice was, he said, whether it was "easier to have these developments offshore rather than onshore". | The other choice was, he said, whether it was "easier to have these developments offshore rather than onshore". |
| Asked what would happen if there was no wind for a few days, Mr Hutton said that was why there had to be a mix of energy sources - including nuclear power - to cover for calmer weather periods. | Asked what would happen if there was no wind for a few days, Mr Hutton said that was why there had to be a mix of energy sources - including nuclear power - to cover for calmer weather periods. |
| Friends of the Earth's renewable energy campaigner, Nick Rau, said the group welcomed the government's announcement. | Friends of the Earth's renewable energy campaigner, Nick Rau, said the group welcomed the government's announcement. |
| "The potential power that could be generated by this industry is enormous," he said. | "The potential power that could be generated by this industry is enormous," he said. |
| "Making Britain a world leader in this form of energy will create jobs, boost the economy and help put Britain at the forefront in the battle to combat climate change." | "Making Britain a world leader in this form of energy will create jobs, boost the economy and help put Britain at the forefront in the battle to combat climate change." |
| Wind turbines have proved to be controversial onshore and offshore. | Wind turbines have proved to be controversial onshore and offshore. |
| There have been concerns about their visual impact, the impact on wildlife such as birds and the offshore ones' impact on shipping and fishing. | There have been concerns about their visual impact, the impact on wildlife such as birds and the offshore ones' impact on shipping and fishing. |