Martin Vickers: 'We don't want wind turbines in open countryside'
"WIND turbines off-shore and in some industrial areas are fine but in open countryside they are unacceptable."
That is the view of Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, as he defended his role in a campaign to urge the Prime Minister to cut his support for the onshore wind industry.
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Martin Vickers MP
His comments came after claims he and more than 100 other backbench Tory MPs made in a letter sent to David Cameron – which questioned the viability of the industry – were thrown into doubt by the results of a new report.
The MPs had argued that wind power cannot be relied upon at times that demand is the greatest, cannot be stored and does not cut enough carbon to make large investments worthwhile and suggested that money be spent on more reliable forms of energy.
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However, the new report by the left-leaning thinktank IPPR, in association with the leading energy consultancy GL Garrad Hassan, concludes there is no technical reason why turbines should not be supported.
Reg Platt, an IPPR fellow, said government and local communities were right to scrutinise costs and planning issues, but that the report showed "unequivocally that wind power can significantly reduce carbon emissions, is reliable, poses no threat to energy security and is technically capable of providing a significant proportion of the UK's electricity with minimal impact on the existing operation of the grid".
Claims to the contrary are not supported by the evidence, said Platt, who pointed out that the study had been peer-reviewed by Nick Jenkins, the head of the Institute of Energy at Cardiff University. The economic model GL Garrad Hassan adopted showed that every megawatt-hour of electricity wind power produced led to carbon savings of a minimum of 350kg.
On that basis, it said, the increasing number of wind farms both on and offshore saved 5.5m tonnes in 2011, at a time when the UK is committed to meeting EU carbon reduction targets in a bid to counter climate change.
Although wind is a variable energy resource in that it cannot be guaranteed to blow at a constant rate, GL Garrad Hassan said it was predictable as a result of weather forecasting technology and the fact that turbines are located all around Britain, meaning that even when some areas are calm, others are likely to be windy.
However, Mr Vickers defended his stance, adding: "Though there is evidence that casts doubt on the economics of on-shore wind, what is certain is that on-shore turbines are seen by local communities as a blot on the landscape and the public's willingness to subsidise them through their bills has reached the limit.
"One key argument put forward in our letter to the PM was the public's dissatisfaction with, in particular, the planning process – something acknowledged by the IPPR report and without public support for the policy it has no future."
What is the true reason for building turbines? One reader's view – p15.
Comments
by Jasbee
Thursday, September 06 2012, 9:09PM
“people reading the Telegraph have been thoroughly brainwashed into believing in wind power I saw that Grimsby's wind speed was 18km/h That yields an output of 5% of full capacity. 95 % must therefore be being supplied by those horrible fossil fuel powered alternators. They can never stop. They are on line always no matter what the wind. If the fossil fuelled alterinators ever stopped blackout would rapidly follow.
There I have said it yet again. Now any logical arguments or just silly red arrows?”
by Jasbee
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 9:24PM
“Well here I go as number 36. Wind as I have said so many times before is a scam. The electricity customers are paying for non performance. cost times the wind is not strong enough to get over The cube law which says light wind little or no power The wind at GY this morning was 18km/hr gives about 5% power. The other95% is from the always spinning coal fired alternators. Yep the coal is burned constantly.All the think tanks in the world cannot get over that.”
by lizidrip
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 3:27PM
“I do not understand why Vickers is happy for wind turbines to be off shore (the sea and shore line are area's of natural beauty), yet objects to them been in the open country side.
Unfortunately he has not bothered to say how he has come to this conclusion or shown any evidence to justify his statement.
He also appears to have missed the point, that most people are well aware about the disavantages of wind turbines and and fully understand that they will not reliably supply the power the country needs.
But surely the point is that they are contributing to limiting the damage to the environment caused by traditional methods of generating power, and any conrtibution however small has to be good.
I would also very much like to know how Vickers has come to the conclusion that wind turbines are acceptable in some places of natural beauty and unacceptable in others and exactly how he evidences and justifys his statements”
by reaper_grim
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 9:03PM
“So what about Windy Miller and his windmill in the countryside?”
by s_pike
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 12:36PM
“44wick
I'm glad I tried a bit of flippant humour with you because your reply post was the best made on this site by anyone this year and had me howling with laughter. Thank you.”
by 44wick
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 10:12AM
“The gnomes love 'em but the fairies have mixed views.
According to rumour, Martin Vickers wees his knickers.”
by s_pike
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 8:50AM
“44wick
Are the gnomes and fairies happy with your windmills?
Merry Xmas.”
by 44wick
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 8:30AM
“Last week, I put some tiny wind turbines in my garden. These have successfully powered three torches and a miniature Christmas tree. None of the small animals in my garden were harmed and nobody complained. If people could only follow my example, we could harness one of the greatest powers on earth and use it to provide risk-free power.
Why oh why does Mr Vickers get so uptight about the subject?
These turbines look like those wonderful propellers we played with by the seaside as children.”
by Dexxx
Monday, September 03 2012, 11:01PM
“Para=Handy Worry not about the red ticks I've found its because you are more likely to be right
in what you say
.”
by para_handy
Monday, September 03 2012, 11:17AM
“Curious that 13 negative hits are used on all my posts LOL. This may show a futile desparate attempt to discredit information that clearly hits a raw nerve. Are the advocates of wind power realising that more and more people cannot be hoodwinked?
No other industry could get away with fleecing millions to pay just a few thousand green energy shareholders rich rewards for non-delivery!
If I had land, I would put up as many wind turbines as I could get away with too.”