Call on Lord Mandelson to save wind energy jobs

The UK has the best wind resources in Europe. Wind power can help us radically transform our energy networks to achieve a low carbon future.

Horns Reef windfarm Denmark

Vestas turbines at Horns Reef windfarm in Denmark

It is a key technology to help us meet our target of 15% renewable energy by 2020.

Closures ahead

But England's only large-scale wind turbine manufacturing plant is set to close.

The Vestas facility in Newport on the Isle of Wight is due to close at the end of July. This will mean the loss of over 600 jobs with production being transferred to China and the USA.

Did you know?

The factory is due to close within hours of Government announcing plans to build a green economy and create 400,000 jobs.

The Times

Joint forces

Friends of the Earth is joining with trade union Unite in calling on the Government to save our country's wind power jobs.

Investment is needed in the renewables industry to ensure it survives the recession.

The Government talks about how green jobs will help the country climb out of the recession, so we hope they will take action.

Jack Dromey, Unite deputy general secretary

Action needed

The Government must provide:

A secure future
For the Vestas plant.
Investment to expand the electricity grid
both on and offshore.
Innovation in electricity networks
to allow more decentralised generation.
Solutions to promote
greater acceptance of onshore wind.
A long term vision
for green jobs in the UK.
Development
for skills for renewable energy.

Please ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to act now and save the UK's wind power industry.

Call on Lord Mandelson to save wind energy jobs

Dear Lord Mandelson,

Here's an example you can use (but a personal message from you would be much more effective).

I am writing to you as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to ask you to save the UK's wind power industry. England's only large-scale wind turbine manufacturing plant in Newport, Isle of Wight, is set to close, with production likely to relocate overseas. This would be a disaster from the point of view of green jobs and the long term sustainability of the UK as well as for the regional economy. The jobs under threat make up 12 per cent of the manufacturing jobs on the Isle of Wight and also support regional jobs in the supply chain. Britain is committed to producing 15% of its total energy from renewable energy sources by 2020. But if we are to meet our renewable energy targets then the wind power industry should be moving forward and developing, not cutting back In the short term the Government must do all it can to save the future of the Newport plant. Building a thriving wind power industry in the UK will help us avoid disastrous climate change, generate jobs and business and a secure and long lasting energy supply for the UK. In order to do this the Government must: - Revise national planning guidance to ensure better delivery of renewable projects at a local level. - Create a Green Infrastructure Bank to provide guaranteed, low cost finance to the renewables industry. - Make cutting carbon dioxide emissions a priority for Ofgem. We must promote innovation in smarter electricity generation and infrastructure, and ensure strategic development of electricity grids both on and offshore. - Invest more in skills for renewable energy. The Government has promised to support low-carbon industries. By helping secure the future of the Newport plant it will be helping secure the future of the UK wind power/renewable energy industry as a whole.

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