Windfarm opponents hail decision to scrap subsidy payments

energy: Group claims communities will benefit but SNP warns of £3bn cost

Anti-windfarm campaigners say they hope the UK Government’s decision to scrap windfarm subsidies will stop Scottish communities being “besieged” by developers.

The UK Government has unveiled proposals to close the subsidies payment scheme a year early for new onshore wind projects, sparking anger from Scottish Government ministers who warned the move could be subject to judicial review – as most of the proposed windfarms are in Scotland.

A national alliance pushing for policy reform north of the border said it is delighted to see the Government end what it called “ludicrously generous” cash incentives.

Graham Lang, chairman of Scotland Against Spin, said: “Speculative developers from across the world have flocked to Scotland because of the SNP’s open door policy to the wind industry.

“Scottish communities besieged by subsidy-chasers can at last look forward to some respite.

“There is a terrible irony that the Conservatives at Westminster, not the nationalists at Holyrood, have finally stood up to the wind speculators and put the interests of communities and consumers first.”

Mr Lang also argued that something else needs to be done to “check the runaway development” of smaller windfarms eligible for feed-in tariffs, saying: “These can be even more damaging for local residents, and cumulatively for local landscapes, than larger windfarms.”

New legislation will close the support scheme to new onshore wind projects from April 1 2016, although up to 5.2 gigawatts of onshore wind capacity projects that already have planning consent, grid connection deals and land rights could be eligible for grace periods.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon re-stated her opposition to the move yesterday, stating: “This decision threatens £3 billion of investment in Scotland and the livelihoods of those who work in the sector.

“I encourage the UK Government to fully consider the potentially disastrous outcomes and see sense.”

SSE, which has 1GW of operating capacity as well as 280MW of capacity under construction, said it was unclear if it could complete current projects.

A spokesman said: “It is important the legislation is consistent with meeting climate change commitments cost effectively, protecting existing investments and retaining the wider economic benefits that investment in renewable energy brings.”

Speculative developers from across the world have flocked to Scotland because of the SNP’s open door policy to the wind industry. GRAHAM LANG OF SCOTLAND AGAINST SPIN