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“Immoral” subsidies for onshore windfarms and large scale solar farms should be scrapped “as soon as possible”, according to energy minister Michael Fallon.
Speaking at The Spectator’s energy conference in London, Fallon said “mature” renewable technologies, including onshore wind and large scale solar farms, should not receive government subsidies.
He added: “It is not right – it is immoral – for hard working, base rate tax payers to be lining the pockets of landowners by funding the development of large scale renewables that do not need further subsidy.”
Peter Atherton, analyst at Liberum Capital, also said changes need to be made to make UK energy policy more affordable for the taxpayer.
He added: “Energy policy can’t be financed at a cost the public is willing to bear. Is the public willing to pay for this? It is very, very unlikely.”
Malcolm Grimston, associate fellow of energy, environment and resources at Chatham House, went further and said the current “energy policy is not sustainable” and changes are needed to make it more affordable.
The energy minister also reiterated the government’s desire for a European 2030 carbon reduction target, not a renewable target, saying this would make the UK “free to choose the lowest cost pathway to a low carbon future” amd would help limit costs to consumers.
Fallon also denied that by seeking only a carbon reduction target and not a renewable target for 2030, the government was abandoning the pledge made by the Prime Minister in 2010 for the coalition to be “the greenest government ever”.
Fallon said: “Being green doesn’t mean being Greenpeace. Signing up to yet more targets irrespective of the impacts on consumers and business is deeply irresponsible.
“In contract being cost effective green is caring. Caring for the worst off and caring for our industry.”
He added: “I made it clear we cannot go on imposing on our poorest households and most vulnerable these immediate costs of trying to comply too quickly with targets ahead of what consumers can stand.”
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