Wind power plan blown off course
Closure of turbine factory undermines Government's green pledges
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The goverment's commitment to wind farms is being questioned as the Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight faces closure
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The Government was facing a growing credibility gap over green jobs last night as environmental campaigners and trade unionists united to fight the closure of Britain's sole major wind turbine plant.
Only last week, ministers proclaimed a green employment future for the UK involving 400,000 jobs in environmental industries such as renewable energy – yet this week they are declining to intervene over the forthcoming closure of the Vestas Wind Systems plant on the Isle of Wight, with nearly 600 redundancies.
Workers at the Newport factory, which makes wind turbine blades, were last night staging their third night of occupation of the plant in an attempt to prevent the closure which is scheduled for 31 July. In an alliance not seen before, they were being helped by climate-change campaigners who have set up an ad hoc camp outside the factory and yesterday helped to get food to the occupiers.
Vestas, a Danish company which is the world's biggest wind energy group, announced in April it was pulling out of the UK, citing the difficulties of getting wind farms built in Britain in the face of local "Nimby" opposition campaigns and the slowness of the planning system.
"A problem we are facing is our inability to get planning consent," said a senior company executive. "We needed a stable long-term market and that was not there in the UK. We have made clear to the Government that we need a market. We do not need money."
Several weeks before the closure announcement, Vestas bosses led by the chief executive, Ditlev Engle, went to 10 Downing Street for a high-level meeting attended by the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband, where they made specific demands for more direct government support. When this was not forthcoming, the closure was announced.
While the Government may not have felt able to respond to what were in effect threats from a private manufacturing company, the consequence of allowing the country's major wind energy manufacturing plant to fold has attracted ferocious criticism from the green movement.
This was not least because of the prospect that the 7,000 or so wind turbines Britain will install over the next decade to help meet its climate-change targets will have to come from abroad, even though last week both Mr Miliband and the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, launching the Government's climate strategy, went to great lengths to stress the green business opportunities of Britain becoming a low-carbon economy.
"Last week Labour promised Britain would install thousands of wind turbines in the coming years. Are ministers really now saying they'd rather buy those turbines from abroad than make them here in the UK?" said Robin Oakley, head of the Greepeace climate campaign. "Letting this factory close is like a football manager saying he's up for the cup then dropping his only goal scorer. It just doesn't make sense.
"It is factories like this and engineers like the ones occupying it that Britain desperately needs if ministers are serious about launching a green industrial revolution."
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party leader and the Isle of Wight's MEP, sent a message of support to the workers and called for immediate government intervention to save the factory from closure. "The decision to close the facility represents a spectacular failure by government ministers to adequately promote green industries, and protect the future of manufacturing in this country," she said.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: "This closure exposes the hollow truth of Labour's climate change strategy." Five Labour MPs have already signed a Commons motion protesting against the closure.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said the company had taken a commercial decision to reduce its production capacity across northern Europe. She acknowledged there were "cultural and planning issues" behind the construction of wind farms, but promised they would be tackled by the climate strategy. She said: "We are hopeful Vestas will go ahead with their plans for a research and development facility on the Isle of Wight which could provide up to a further 300 jobs and also help develop and test products that are suitable for the UK offshore market."
Vestas erected a fence around the site in response to the protest. Workers claimed it was being put up to stop food or drink being sent in. One said: "We are convinced this is against the Human Rights Act because we are being denied humanitarian aid."
Three protesters were arrested outside the site. Hampshire Police said a 28-year-old man from Southampton had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and a 49-year-old man from Portsmouth was arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace.
A London man, aged 38, was arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace and later released without charge.
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Comments
Pathetically Sickening, self-serving hypocrites are the adjective that currently come to mind.
The best renewable energy source however is wave power. This is constant and we are surrounded by the stuff! Not only that, but we have had some brilliant designs (such as Salter's Duck) which have been criminally neglected.
Furthermore, there is another benefit from harnessing wave power: the water behind the barrage is calm (as all the energy has been extracted from the waves) and thus these barrages can be used to prevent coastal erosion.
Until nuclear fusion is perfected, the best clean energy source is wave power. The government's refusal to develop this is a disgrace.
Yes, we have wind power today, we will have wave power tomorrow.
Its all about reliability and getting a National Grid circuit built around the coastline - this is underway.
The so-called leaders of the western world are simply puppets of the international money lender elites, who see far better profitability in having things manufatured in the low wage economies of Asia.
They could not give a damn what happens to the ordinary folk of Britain (or anywhere else for that matter), so long as civil unrest is avoided. Never have. Never will.
The present game is to keep the people as deceived as possible for as long as possible, till they can orchestrate economic collapse on their terms.
Put aside the pros and cons of wind turbines. But a gov that one day says, green jobs are our future and will generate hundreds and thousands of jobs. Then the next day the ONLY company in the U.K. making wind turbine blades closes saying no point doing business in this country. 600 people have lost their jobs!
As Littlejohn says "You could not make it up". What a national disaster, Mandy, McDoom and the rest of this motely Labour shower are.
Its going to be a combination of renewables and nuclear.
We need nuclear as the back up power source.
UK is small, most of us remember what happen Chenoybl, UK wouldnt be able to handle a nuclear failure too well as we are a densely populated nation.
Use as much renewable as we can, use nuclear as a complimentary source of power.
Norway, is planning to install many thousands of deep water turbines along 2500km coastline so that it can become a power source for Northern Europe - smart people. We are dragging our heels...
Of course the spin doctors have managed to massage the figure so that the increase is only a theoretical 100 quid if you are fortunate enough to have heavy insulation. Of course you must first pay for cavity wall insulation etc of which there is good evidence that it makes your house damp. Rots all your floorboards allegedly, perhaps leaving your house technically unfit for human habitation so you have to buy a " new " one at inflated prices.
The whole of environment policy relating to climate change is obviously a massive investment scam ( 150bn ) and of course the Corporate Nazi stock market parasite CBI support the policy in principle. Britain's only wind farm turbine maker has just closed down so the stock market parasites can scam even more changing money on the imported infrastructure.
Of course we are promised " green jobs " but that's no use to those who will loose their jobs as traditional manufacturing becomes more expensive due to artificially inflated energy costs. The FT predicts that business energy costs will increase 17% over the next few years. The government claims that a record number of people have come off JSA but that probably consists of those who have been claiming for the maximum permitted period of six months.
Perhaps this sums up our EU and UK government stance on basic human rights like being able to afford to keep warm, dry and have a full belly.
The Corporate Nazi's have turned " science " into a quasi-religion these day's. It would be interesting to discover just how many of the alleged scientists who support man made global warming theory are actually in debt to an amount equivalent to their projected life income. Of course the " Banks " can turn round and say if you do not support the Corporate Multinational Cartel position on climate change we will call in the loans. ( this principle also applies to alleged " green " politicians )
As usual the trail invariably leads back to the stock market parasites looking to make a " quick buck " from liquidating and then asset stripping any UK business made uneconomic by increased energy charges. Then the stock market parasites can make even more changing money exporting the assets to countries not so foolish enough to artificially inflate their own energy costs.
Whatever the scam the trail always leads back to the Corporate Nazi stock market parasites, take the offensive in Afghanistan for instance. I suspect that various troops have expended vastly more than the usual amount of ammo recently, perhaps explaining why mining stocks are doing so well over the past week. Politicians squealing for more helicopters even though they didn't help the Russians, potential for even more sad deaths if they can shoot down several men with one " good " shot. Perhaps the British are loosing the " hearts and minds " battle due to the probability that the CMC ( and their top executives ) have embezzled most of the reconstruction budget.
1. Onshore wind power (past)
2. Onshore and offshore wind power (now and near future)
3. Wave, tidal power (future)
Bear in mind that onshore wind farms are not permanent, they will be around for 25 years, then off shore technologies are expected to take over.
ps, we will need nuclear to work alond side renewables, but just sufficient to keep everyone happy.
Well dear readers, there is a company called Solarbotanic Ltd, based in London, that is working very hard to get you - Energy Harvesting Trees - These natural looking trees convert light, heat, sound, rain and wind energy into clean green electricity. A perfectly solution. They are investigating the possibilities to produce and manufacture in Britain, hopefully Brown is Green and will take notice.
Dominic Lawson has pointed out that the UK only produces 2 percent of the world's carbon emission, which is less than the accounting error. Therefore, even if we were to cut our carbon emissions by 100 percent and go back to living in caves, it would have no effect on climate change. Add to this the enormous 'carbon footprint' produced for every wind generator, then the plan to cover the countryside with ugly and dangerous wind farms is just plain silly.
Unfortunately we have an official opposition that also seems to be sold on this crazy form of alternative power generation. And add to this the increasing scientific scepticism about anthropogenic global warming alarmism and one wonders why the December conference on climate change has not ben cancelled.
So hopefully the closure of Vestas might be the silver lining in the giant, dark wind farm cloud hanging over us. One hopes that these workers can be employed in constructing coal fired stations that will tide us over until we can rebuild our nuclear industry.
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
My charges please 25p prphpgplt 7/24/305 I need Sundays. I am not Brown.
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
And this is what can happen after wind turbines are installed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqEccgR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbMO7ufA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N4HQv-U
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
Having attended the protest area to show my support I am quite appalled about the inhumane ways the company is trying to flush the sit in workers out.
This year alone during these so called summer months we have more wind than ever before, with gusts of gale force strength, and offshore turbines are getting wind enough to drive these turbines continually.
If we all have small domestic turbines of our own too, this would help a great deal.
I am fed up with people who ignore the wonderful natural energy that this country and throughout the world have at our disposal, that is non toxic free of radiation and clean and available all year round.
I am afraid we campaigners will have to step up our battle to get this government off talk talk to its walk walk it is pure ignorance that is making this so difficult for our so stupid weak government
My family and many othersI are already working very hard to making our selves self suffiecinet and ready for when oil runs out, and it will! It is already in low reserve, and gas and electricity prices soar.
The mindset of I am alright Jack and blow the others will have to change I'm afraid, everyone will need to adopt a new way of thinking we are promoting living,working and growing organically locally, recycling everything including clothes making do and mend, it is such a wonderful stress free way to live, and will improve peoples health immensely.
WE cannot let our government get away with this, we need Vesta to keep generating wind and jobs.
There is no country in the world able to rely on wind power because it is so unpredictable.
There are many issues surrounding the location of wind farms, mainly because they need to be located in areas where there is a steady air flow. which normally means in places of outstanding beauty.
Why isn't the government itself not researching suitable areas, such as on existing MOD land ect.
They could certainly do more to find locations and assist specialist comanies. Particulary as this is still a developing market and the few companies involved will need assistance.
how much assistance does the nuclear industry get?
Roll on the general election that's all I can say, I am sure the Libdems will do better....
The UK has some of the best wind resources, but at the same time, some of the most difficult planning processes.
We need to make it much easier for developers to get planning permission. Then we will have many more green jobs.
Living on top of the South Downs, we have a view of the English Channel, with prevailing South-Westerly winds.
Why can't the British Government, offer some sort of incentive to householders, or communities for allowing wind turbines in their "Back Yard".
This beautiful planet's going to hell in a handbasket, and, it's our fault. come on Mr Miliband, DO THE RIGHT THING!
The same lobby groups state that wind power is the answer to all our problems, so what's the excuse? Is losing charitable status more important than actively producing solutions to climate change? Am I mistaken or do some green lobby groups buy up Carbon credits and shares in power companies. A creditable and legal effort I say (as opposed to vandalising coal-fired stations), but surely now is the chance to help the UK exploit its 'windy' credentials.
"While the Government may not have felt able to respond to what were in effect threats from a private manufacturing company, the consequence of allowing the country's major wind energy manufacturing plant to fold has attracted ferocious criticism from the green movement."
Of course, no government worth it's sovereign salt could possibly fall for this sort of commercial arm twisting, I mean, if it's Vestas now, it'll be the banks next, and then you're talking serious money .........