Last night on Channel 4 News, Hayes repeated comments made to the press a fortnight ago that onshore wind developments should be curbed. Energy secretary Ed Davey was forced to intervene last time round as Hayes’ stance flies in the face of government policy to support the deployment of renewable energy.
RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive, Maf Smith, said: “The energy minister’s comments risk undermining investor confidence, jeopardising much-needed renewable energy projects and the many thousands of jobs they would create throughout the UK. This is a deliberate attempt to recklessly re-write coalition policy just before the most significant government intervention in the energy markets for a generation – the publication of the Energy Bill later this month. The energy secretary Edward Davey, has made it clear that Mr Hayes’s views do not represent government policy, and the prime minister has offered reassurances that government policy on renewables remains unchanged.
“It is now critical that Mr Cameron stops this policy brinkmanship and sends a clear message to all investors that his government is absolutely committed to providing stability for the entire energy sector – otherwise investment could be lost in all forms of power generation – not just in renewables. On matters as crucial as keeping the lights on and homes warm while tackling climate change, we cannot afford to play “push-me-pull-you” politics.”