Reacting to comments made by Energy Minister John Hayes last night (Tuesday 30 October 2012) that “enough is enough” on wind turbines that have been “peppered around the country”, Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said:

“Mr Hayes is out of touch with public opinion – his department’s own research shows that two thirds of people back onshore wind power, with just 12 per cent opposing.

“As well as being popular, the Prime Minister says wind will be among our cheapest energy sources in the next few years, so if planned wind farms don’t get built it will cost us more to generate our electricity in the future, leading to higher bills.

“The countryside simply isn't peppered with wind turbines and nor will it be – but the Government should make it easier for communities to benefit directly from owning their own renewable energy schemes.

“The new Jerusalem the Minister should focus on is one built out of thousands of small enterprises generating their own electricity, or playing a vital role in making or building clean British energy.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Last month TV Dragon Deborah Meaden and around 250 representatives from renewable energy companies, trade associations, environment and development charities, the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) and faith groups lined up outside the Treasury in a united call on David Cameron to step in, green our electricity, and get all parts of his Government to start taking the green economy seriously.
2. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to listen to the advice of The Committee on Climate Change and include a target in the forthcoming Energy Bill to green our electricity by 2030.
3. Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign, backed by Deborah Meaden, 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. For too long the Big Six energy companies have locked Britain into importing costly gas and coal – causing our fuel bills to rocket. Now 85 per cent of people want the Government to back UK renewable power instead. This, and cutting energy waste, will stabilise fuel bills and create new jobs.