UK Environment Ministry: Wind farms damage rural communities — Warming Ministry tries to stop repor
Conservative Owen Patterson, Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and rural affairs (Defra) has commissioned a major report on renewable energy and the rural economy.
But sources have claimed that Liberal Democrat Ed Davey, who is head of Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), wants to stop the report being published as it could paint wind turbines in a negative light.
Speaking to the Telegraph, a source from Defra said: “They don’t want information out there that would allow people to challenge the energy solution they are going after.”
Despite the row, Mr Patterson is said to be determined to publish the report.
A source said: “There has been a back and forth with the DECC but we are doing this report. We want some hard and fast evidence about the effect of renewables on rural communities. That is well within our portfolio.”
“This is our department. We are doing this report. It is part of our remit.”
A spokesman from the DECC said: "DECC and Defra are working together on this report, which is not yet complete, to ensure that it meets the usual standards and quality assurances that you would expect from any Government publication.
But sources have claimed that Liberal Democrat Ed Davey, who is head of Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), wants to stop the report being published as it could paint wind turbines in a negative light.
Speaking to the Telegraph, a source from Defra said: “They don’t want information out there that would allow people to challenge the energy solution they are going after.”
Despite the row, Mr Patterson is said to be determined to publish the report.
A source said: “There has been a back and forth with the DECC but we are doing this report. We want some hard and fast evidence about the effect of renewables on rural communities. That is well within our portfolio.”
“This is our department. We are doing this report. It is part of our remit.”
A spokesman from the DECC said: "DECC and Defra are working together on this report, which is not yet complete, to ensure that it meets the usual standards and quality assurances that you would expect from any Government publication.
"A diverse energy mix is the best way to meet our energy security requirements, our climate change commitments and keep energy bills affordable."
No deadline or publication date was given.
Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint said of the row: "Onshore wind power is the cheapest and most developed form of clean energy, with the potential to create thousands of badly-needed new jobs in Britain.
"But Government splits are undermining this key growth industry and putting Britain's energy security at risk.
"David Cameron promised to lead the 'greenest government ever' but his failure to control his own ministers and MPs is scaring away investors and job-creators in the clean energy industry."
David Cameron has championed offshore wind farms and fracking over onshore wind farms, saying this month that there is “limited potential” for the energy source in the UK.
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