PS – 51:

24-Jul-2015
(PS-51: DECC – Onshore wind Letter 01)

DECC – Onshore wind Letter 01

REDACTED NAME
& ADDRESS

Department of Energy & Climate Change
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW
http://www.gov.uk
Our ref: TO2015/07548/JA
24 July 2015

Dear REDACTED NAME,

Thank you for your follow-up email of 6 July to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), about onshore wind subsidies. I have been asked to reply.

On 18 June, the Secretary of State announced to Parliament the end of new subsidies for onshore wind provided by the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme and changes to planning laws so that local people will have the final say on onshore windfarm applications. While onshore wind power plays an important role in Britain’s energy industry, the Government believes there are now enough projects in development to help us meet our renewable electricity commitments. We plan to deliver these changes through an Energy Bill, which was presented into the House of Lords on 9 July.

The Secretary of State has proposed a grace period which would continue to give access to support under the RO to those projects which, as of 18 June, already had planning consent, a grid connection offer and acceptance, and evidence of land rights for the site on which their project will be built. These proposals are intended to deliver on the Conservative election manifesto commitment to end new subsidies for onshore wind in a fair and balanced way. The Secretary of State’s statements may be viewed on the Parliament website.

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/June%202015/18%20June/2-DECC-Wind.pdf

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm150622/debtext/150622-0001.htm#1506227000002

In making this announcement, the Government has recognised that onshore wind has made a valuable contribution to the UK energy mix in recent years but has now reached the point where there is enough capacity in the pipeline for the UK to meet its 2020 renewable electricity commitments. The grace period arrangements the Government have proposed are intended to protect investor confidence in the wider renewables sector and balance the interests of onshore wind developers with consumers, who pay the cost of onshore wind support through their energy bill.
In her statement to Parliament on 18 June, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change said that she now wants to hear views from the industry and other stakeholders before framing the terms of the legislation to deliver the Manifesto Commitment. Further to this, on 7 July we announced further information on the proposed grace periods and the engagement process, which can be viewed online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-obligation-ro-grace-period-for-new-onshore-wind

In particular, we are interested in hearing from developers with projects that are currently in the planning system, but which have not yet secured planning consent, and to receive information and evidence relating to:

o the stage that such projects have reached in the planning process, anticipated final planning decision dates, and expenditure incurred on projects as at the date of the Secretary of State’s announcement;
o project timetables and anticipated dates for securing a grid connection offer and acceptance; and
o the prospects of such projects being in a position to accredit under the RO by 31 March 2017 and expected final investment decision dates.

Information on future stakeholder engagement events across the UK will be published on this page shortly. We will consider carefully the level of investment that developers are likely to bring forward under the proposals announced by the Secretary of State on 18 June.

I hope that this is helpful.
Yours sincerely,

DECC Correspondence Unit

DO PLEASE NOTE:

Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): My constituents will be delighted that we now have a Conservative Government, as under a coalition Government we would never have had this statement or this excellent Secretary of State at the Dispatch Box. I have it clear in my mind, but can my right hon. Friend confirm that if the Borough Council of Wellingborough turns down a planning application for a wind farm, its decision cannot be overturned by the Planning Inspectorate?

Amber Rudd: Yes, I can confirm that.

Source Government web site from debate in Parliament as per Hansard 22 Jun 2015 : Column 633
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-obligation-ro-grace-period-for-new-onshore-wind