David Cameron dismisses concern about Nissan wind farm near Sunderland

David Cameron has dismissed claims that a decision to cut subsidies for on-shore wind farms will affect a £3 million investment by Nissan in the North East.

The motor manufacturer said it was continuing to discuss funding with the Government.

Mr Cameron was quizzed in the House of Commons by Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson, who highlighted an announcement last year that new onshore wind farms will be excluded from a subsidy scheme from 1 April 2016 - a year earlier than expected.

Nissan has applied to Sunderland City Council for permission to add five more turbines to ten already running on its site by the side of the A19, which contribute towards energy needs at its Sunderland plant where 4,500 people are directly employed.

2011 Getty ImagesSharon HodgsonSharon Hodgson
Ms Hodgson told the House of Commons: “Last year, the Energy Secretary scrapped support under the renewables obligation for new onshore wind projects.

“This will impact Nissan’s £3 million investment in its wind farm in my constituency.

“Does the Prime Minister realise that his attacks on clean energy are detrimental to pro-green businesses such as Nissan? Will he look at this immediately and rectify the matter in the Energy Bill next week?”

Mr Cameron said subsidies for renewable energy had to be limited because they put up fuel bills.

He said: “Every single subsidy that is given to these technologies is extra money that we put on to people’s bills, making their energy more expensive.

“So it is right that we seek a balance between decarbonising our economy and making sure we do it at a low cost to our consumers and the people who pay the bills. That is what our policy is all about.”

He told MPs: “We are going to see another 50% increase in onshore wind investment during this Parliament. Also, Britain has the biggest offshore wind market anywhere in the world.”

He added: “Britain has the fourth largest solar installation of any country anywhere in the world. Indeed, my new favourite statistic is that 98% of those solar panels have been installed since I was Prime Minister.

“This is all good news, and it means that we have a genuine claim to be leading a renewables revolution.”

Asked for a response, a Nissan spokesperson said: “ Nissan has applied for planning permission to extend the wind farm at our Sunderland Plant by an additional five turbines. We are currently discussing the availability of grant support with the UK Government.”

If approved, the five new turbines would have a maximum tip height of 76 metres, a hub height of up to 50 metres and their three blades would be up to 26 metres in length.

They would have a total generating capacity of up to 4.25 megawatts.

Contractors would be encouraged to use local firms and skills and the turbines themselves would be built off-site in sections and put together over a short period of time.

Energy Secretary Amber Rudd last year told MPs that cutting the subsidy was likely to mean 2,500 planned turbines would not be built.

She told MPs the change “draws the line in the right place” and said consumer bills would not rise as a result.

The funding for the subsidy comes from the Renewables Obligation, which is funded by levies added to household fuel bills.

An end to this subsidy had previously been expected in 2017.

 
 
Promoted Stories
 Make Signing on the Dotted Line a Snap With Docusign for Salesforce
Make Signing on the Dotted Line a Snap With Docusign for…
(Salesforce)
 
Working Is Hard Enough. Finding a Job Shouldn't Be
Working Is Hard Enough. Finding a Job Shouldn't Be
(Monster)
 
Why lean startups are modeling their support centers after this free eBook
Why lean startups are modeling their support centers after…
(Salesforce.com)
 
CRM Best Practices: 7 Things to Do for Maximum Success
CRM Best Practices: 7 Things to Do for Maximum Success
(Salesforce)
 The Best Protein-Eating Strategy for Weight Loss
The Best Protein-Eating Strategy for Weight Loss
(Shape Magazine)
 
Silicon Valley Startup Is Disrupting The Traditional Broker Model
Silicon Valley Startup Is Disrupting The Traditional Broker…
(Yahoo! Finance)
 
6 Secrets to Offering Exceptional Customer Service
6 Secrets to Offering Exceptional Customer Service
(Salesforce)
 
Smart Pill Smells Out the Body's Fiber Factor
Smart Pill Smells Out the Body's Fiber Factor
(feedburner)
Also on the Chronicle
 Pavel Srnicek memorial: Hundreds turn out for emotional service in Newcastle
Pavel Srnicek memorial: Hundreds turn out for emotional…
 
Three Newcastle men admit fraud after selling non-existent event tickets on Facebook
Three Newcastle men admit fraud after selling non-existent…
 
Your photos of flooding in Newcastle and the North East after heavy rains
Your photos of flooding in Newcastle and the North East…
 
Cheryl's husband Jean-Bernard hits back on Instagram after divorce reports
Cheryl's husband Jean-Bernard hits back on Instagram after…
Recommended by
 
Comments (0)LOGIN
SortSubscribeRSS
Recently Published

Sunderland venture uses football to tackle social isolation and loneliness
 Jolene Dunbar, Librarian at Sandhill Centre Library, Sunderland pictured with various items of sporting memorabilia
Sport will be at centre of new group set up to encourage conversation, debate and memories to ease social problems

North East news LIVE: Latest snow watch and breaking news, sport, traffic and travel updates
Previous Articles

North East MP Sharon Hodgson warns about children going hungry in the school holidays
 Sharon Hodgson
North East MP Sharon Hodgson calls for action after study finds parents skip meals to ensure their children can eat

David Cameron pledges to keep free school meals after Sunderland MP brands him 'Dave the dinner snatcher'
North East MP Sharon Hodgson raises school meals fears with Government
Related Tags

In The News
Politics Wind Farms
People
Sharon Hodgson David Cameron
Organisations
Nissan
Places
Sunderland Washington

Recommended in North East News

 
NORTH EAST WEATHER
North East weather: Met Office predict up to 10cm of snow for County Durham and Northumberland
 
ROTHBURY
Woman's body pulled from the River Coquet in Rothbury
 
NEWCASTLE CROWN COURT
Lee Irving trial: Murder accused's girlfriend allegedly told sister vulnerable lad 'died slowly'
 
MISSING PEOPLE
Missing North Tyneside man Robert Dodd, 91, sparks Northumbria Police concern
 
SOUTH TYNESIDE
Man 'acting suspiciously' at Chichester Metro Station being hunted by armed police officers
Most Read in News

 
GEORDIE SHORE
Geordie Shore: Where Are They Now? A look at castmates past and present
NORTH EAST WEATHER
North East weather: Met Office predict up to 10cm of snow for County Durham and Northumberland
NEWCASTLE CROWN COURT
Lee Irving trial: Murder accused's girlfriend allegedly told sister vulnerable lad 'died slowly'
ROTHBURY
Woman's body pulled from the River Coquet in Rothbury
MISSING PEOPLE
Body found in search for missing North Tyneside man Robert Dodd, 91
Recommended

 
SAM ALLARDYCE
Sam Allardyce is channelling Derren Brown to guide Sunderland to safety
 
MISSING PEOPLE
Body found in search for missing North Tyneside man Robert Dodd, 91
 
DURHAM CONSTABULARY
Durham arrests after crackdown on suspected heroin gangs
 
NORTH EAST WEATHER
North East weather: Met Office predict up to 10cm of snow for County Durham and Northumberland
 
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC
Five strikers Newcastle United could target - and how prolific they are

FOLLOW US
CONTACT US
SEND A STORY
ADVERTISE
THE EDITOR
JOURNALISTS
Newcastle Chronicle
Join us on social media.
For the latest local news straight to your Twitter, Facebook feed or e-mail inbox.

Facebook
Newcastle Chronicle
Newcastle United
Sunderland AFC
What's On

Newsletter
Sign up to our daily newsletter
Twitter
@EveningChron
@ChronCommunity
@ChronicleNUFC
@ChronicleSAFC
@WhatsOnNE

News
North East News
Traffic & Travel
Health
Politics
Crime
Education
History
Motors
UK News
World News
News Opinion
Lifestyle
Celebs
Travel
Nostalgia
Competitions
Food & Drink
Lifestyle Opinion
Sport
Football
Newcastle United FC
Sunderland AFC
Rugby Union
Athletics
Basketball
Cricket
Speedway
Rugby League
Angling
Boxing
Ice Hockey
Sport Opinion
What's On
Arts & Culture
Comedy
Family & Kids
Film & TV
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife
In Your Area
Ashington
Benwell, Scotswood & Elswick
Consett
County Durham
Gateshead
Gosforth
Low Fell
Morpeth
Newcastle City Centre
North Shields
South Shields
Sunderland
Walker
Wallsend
Whitley Bay
Useful Links
Our RSS feeds
Contact Us
About Us
Subscriptions
Advertise with us
Puzzles
Goal Time
How to Complain
Corrections & Clarifications
Google Survey
Reader Panel
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Archive
Buy, Sell & Tell
Jobs
Motors
Find a garage
Property
Business Directory
BuySell
Family Notices
Reader Offers
Dating
Chronicle Cashback
Book an Ad
Travel
Buy a Photo
NCJ Shop
Public Notices
View: Desktop Mobile © Trinity Mirror North East