The Government has suffered a fresh defeat in the Lords over scrapping
subsidies for new onshore wind farms.
Peers voted by 182 to 178, majority 4, for an Opposition amendment to
extend exceptions to the plan allowing some projects to be completed where
they had been given initial planning permission.
The vote in debate on the Energy Bill sets the stage for another clash with
the Commons and a further round of parliamentary “ping pong” over the
legislation.
Peers initially deleted the plan to remove the subsidies from this month –
a year earlier than planned – when it was put before them last year.
But the Government reinserted it into the Bill in the Commons, insisting it
is one of their 2015 general election manifesto pledges which must be
implemented.
The idea to end the renewables obligation (RO) early is a key part of the
Bill, which has been backed by MPs and also seeks to give people the final
say on new onshore wind development applications in their area.
Debating the Commons changes to the Bill, Labour spokesman Lord
Grantchester said it was only fair and honest to make a small extension to
exceptions already agreed by the Government for schemes given planning
permission last year.
Liberal Democrat spokesman Lord Wallace of Tankerness accused ministers of
“capriciously” cutting support to wind energy and damaging investor
confidence in the sector and also urged wider exceptions.
But energy and climate change minister Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth said it
was a clear manifesto commitment to end the subsidies.
He confirmed there would be some exceptions to the subsidy cut-off during a
period of grace and insisted the move would protect consumer bills while
balancing the interests of the industry.
While understanding the Government had “to draw a line somewhere”,
opposition spokesman Lord Grantchester said: “The amendment proposes a
logical, consistent, clear, honest and fair extension to the exceptions
agreed by the Government.
“The wider onshore wind industry has come to a consensus and supports this
single narrow extension to the existing renewables grace period criteria.
“The proposed change is for projects that have achieved democratic local
consent for their development at a planning commission on or before 18 June
2015.
“This cannot be said to be against Conservative Party policy.
“It’s widely considered that the decision made by a democratically elected
local planning committee embodies the principle of giving local people the
final say.”
Lord Bourne said he understood the points being made but highlighted a
“doctrinal difference” between the Government and opposition on onshore wind.
He said: “Cut-off points are always going to be a problem. In reality a
cut-off point has to be set and that’s what we have done. It’s only
arbitrary in that any date is arbitrary.”
He added: “This doesn’t stop wind farms deploying onshore. It ends the subsidy.”
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