Commenting on news today (Wednesday 25 July 2012) that subsidies for onshore wind turbines will fall by 10 per cent - and not the 25 per cent cut favoured by the Treasury - Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said:

"Ed Davey has won the battle over wind subsidies - but at what price?

"Treasury arm-twisting has forced him to give his backing to new gas-fired power stations - which is completely at odds with his fuzzy rhetoric on clean British energy.

"The Government's climate advisors warn that UK climate targets won't be met unless our electricity system is almost entirely decarbonised by 2030 - Ed Davey must insist that this target is included in the Energy Bill when it enters Parliament later this year.

"George Osborne's plans for more gas-fired power stations would be a costly disaster for households, businesses and the environment - it's time for David Cameron, the self-styled leader of the greenest Government ever, to intervene.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.      DECC announcement on wind subsidies here.

2.       Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign is urging the Government to listen to the public and transform our broken energy system – by developing clean and affordable power from our wind, sun and water. To find out more and back the campaign, visit www.cleanbritishenergy.co.uk.