Onshore Wind Subsidies Debate

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Huw Irranca-Davies

Main Page: Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour - Ogmore)

Onshore Wind Subsidies

Huw Irranca-Davies Excerpts
Monday 22nd June 2015

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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I am sorry to disappoint my right hon. Friend, but we will not reduce those. Now that we have a market-led system through the CfD, we are able to push for a reduction in prices—I know he will approve—and in the CfD auction last year that was very effective in getting the price down.

Huw Irranca-Davies Portrait Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab)
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May I suggest to the Secretary of State that it would be really helpful if she could publish as much information as possible on the risk analysis she has made of the decision to phase out the subsidy early? Some fear that as we are already behind on the interim targets for the 2020 renewables targets, and given the jeopardy that might put on our climate change obligations, we need to see how well the proposal has been tested, given the risk that some of the projects might fail and undercut it. There might also be a transfer to more expensive renewals should any projects fail. It would help my Committee and others if as much information as possible could be published, so that it can be properly examined.

Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on becoming the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee. I look forward to getting to know him better. I am sure I will have the opportunity to do so at that Committee.

We do not agree that we have not met our targets. I understand that it was reported as such and I will take an early opportunity to write to him to set that out. I take to heart his advice to make sure we publish as much as possible, above all to win everybody’s confidence that what I am saying is absolutely achievable.