Energy minister John Hayes on onshore wind developments: Enough is enough

The energy minister and energy secretary went head to head on wind development issues...

To continue with onshore wind developments or not? This is the question that brought tension between Energy Minister John Hayes and Energy Secretary Ed Davey. 

Mr. Hayes announced that there will no further expansion of onshore developments while being interviewed by one newspaper, prompting Mr. Davey to issue a statement saying there had been no change to government policy.

Mr. Hayes has long been known to be against onshore wind farms. 

“Onshore wind is one of the cheapest renewables, which is why we've been able to cut the subsidy. It has an important role to play in our energy future,” Mr Davey said, as quoted by The Independent.

Mr. Hayes on the other hand, stood by his statement saying wind farms could no longer be imposed on communities. 

“I can't single-handedly build a new Jerusalem but I can protect our green and pleasant land,” he said, as quoted in the same report by The Independent.

“We have issued a call for evidence on wind. That is about cost but also about community buy-in.

“We need to understand communities' genuine desires. We will form our policy in the future on the basis of that, not on a bourgeois left article of faith based on some academic perspective."

It is believed that Mr. Hayes discussed the matter with Mr. Davey in an attempt to limit the fall out from the row.