According to the UK Independence Party website UKIP will try to achieve the following if they gain power at the 2010 general election:
We are opposed to large scale wind generated electric power on land on subsidy and efficiency grounds, but are amenable to offshore wind generation if economic without subsidy.
However, UKIP would oppose the establishment of all wind farms that impinge on established fishing grounds. If justified, we will insist that offshore wind farms such as the huge facility planned for the Bristol Channel, north of Lundy and bigger in area than the Isle of Wight, be constructed in such a way that individual turbines act as anchor points for fish farm nets and arrangements be made for fish farm attendants to enter and work within the area in safety.
10.6 Existing large scale wind-generation schemes already operating in the UK, and those currently being planned, were an easy political response to an arbitrary EU-driven quota requiring 10% of energy generation to come from renewables by 2010. The cost of wind generation schemes is heavily subsidised by the consumer through a system of Renewable Obligation Certificates which all electricity power providers must purchase from the suppliers of ‘renewable energy’ or, if they fail to do so, face severe fines. The system is ultimately controlled by the European Commission.
Subsidising expensive and inefficient forms of energy generation in order to pacify a Green lobby not only penalises the consumer but also ensures that British manufacturing industry is put at a disadvantage against overseas competitors. If the economics of large- scale wind generation were to change in the future we would expect investors to enter this market without public subsidy, in which case UKIP would only allow large-scale wind generation located offshore.
10.7 We recognise that wind energy can be valuable in the context of ‘microgeneration’ – that is, the small-scale generation of electrical power by individuals, organisations or businesses to meet their local needs, particularly in areas remote from large-scale power sources. Microgeneration avoids the loss of energy that occurs during transmission in the national grid, but it can not make a significant contribution to industrial needs. 10.8 Whilst conservation and renewable energy sources are important, they cannot presently come close to meeting our realistic energy requirement. Although fossil fuel use will need to continue for various purposes into the foreseeable future, we urgently need to start reducing our dependence on gas for electricity generation. The decline of gas will leave a yawning ‘energy gap’ in capacity which we must quickly fill.
10.9 Our related policies on transport and regarding agriculture and fishing are contained in separate policy statements.
I would be interested to hear both positive and negative views on UK Independence Party’s Wind farms policies in the comments below?
A resident in the beautiful island of Anglesey i am devastated at the plans to build 1,500 wind turbines off shore ten miles off the coast of anglesey.It will destroy our beautiful scenery and ruin the tourist industry.Ihave been told that each windmill will be aslarge as Blackpool tower .The windfarms along the Norh Wales coast are horrible eyesores and causingthe residents stress as they are killing birds and fish we also find that the turbines only work when the wind is about 10 to 15 miles perhr if the wind is blowing too much they must be tuned off .They are paying 15 billion to provide these inefficient wind turbines they cannot replace the nuclear power station .All this Energy Island has come from Europe .When i tell the locals what is going on they are very shocked or dont believe it .LLandudno has aSave our Scenery Campaign but as yet i know of no protest group on the island as they dont believe it will happen .Please Help.
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