Political Agenda this week, by Mathew Beech

“The RO for onshore wind will end. Except it might not”

The Conservatives were clear in their manifesto. Energy secretary Amber Rudd has made the point crystal clear: there will be no more subsidies for onshore wind.

So much so that the latest Energy Bill – this time originating from the House of Lords – initially had a clause in it to close the Renewables Obligation (RO) a year early to onshore wind.

However, peers in the Other Place were not convinced and overturned this clause. This setback has not dented the government’s, nor Rudd’s, determination to prevent new onshore wind projects being developed.

During the second reading of the Bill in the Commons, the energy secretary said, “there is no ambiguity in the matter,” and reiterated the government’s desire to see the end of onshore wind subsidies. “We will stand firm on them,” she added.

This means in the Commons, where the Tories enjoy a 16-seat majority, they will seek to reinstate the RO ban for onshore wind, and see whether the Lords are up for an energy policy fight.

So the definite end to the RO for onshore wind is definitely going to happen. As long as it gets added back into the Energy Bill and the government can squeeze it past the Lords. That should be the end of it.

But it might not be. DUP MP Sammy Wilson asked Rudd what the consequence would be if the Northern Ireland executive wanted to continue with the RO. The response: “Consumers in Northern Ireland, and not Great Britain, should bear the cost.”

So it’s clear: the RO for onshore wind will end. Probably.