Energy Minister vows re-think on green energy ‘ideology’
In comments that will delight anti-wind farm campaigners but infuriate environmentalists and green groups, John Hayes said the Government must “invest heavily” in fossil fuels and it is “nonsense to pretend otherwise”.
Mr Hayes, handed the energy brief in last month’s Government reshuffle, has campaigned against wind farms in his own constituency and said a new “call for evidence” undertaken by his department will assess their cost and the impact they have on local communities.
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Hide AdSpeaking at the Conservative Party conference, he said: “It’s vitally important that communities feel a sense of ownership over development, that they have a key say in where wind farms are placed, and that they get tangible, real benefits. And I don’t think that’s always been the case.
“You can be absolutely sure that while I am Energy Minister communities will be put first in the siting of all energy developments.”
Speaking at a fringe event he said: “I know, and it’s a nonsense to pretend otherwise, that we’re going to have to invest heavily in fossil fuel-powered sources of energy generation in order to meet need.”
He added: “I will develop and deliver a strategy which has both clarity and certainty. I will do so on the basis of the best advice available to me.
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Hide Ad“But I will do so as the people’s Minister in the people’s party. Not on the basis of the predilections of some detached and cossetted bourgeoisie-Left academics, but on the basis of my long commercial experience before I came to the House.”