Windfarms 'Should Be Established Enough' Not To Need Subsidies

The renewable energy industry should be sufficiently mature to stand on its own without the need for subsidies.

That is according to anti-wind turbine campaigners in Fife who support the UK Government's plans to scrap support for onshore wind farms.

UK Energy Minister Amber Rudd is withdrawing the funding a year earlier than planned, arguing that Scotland has already reached its target of supplying 100 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources. That is denied by the the Scottish Government, who say the Conservatives' scrapping of the funding this early could cost the country £3billion in lost investment.

SPOT Fife is a group of Dunfermline and District residents who came together because of concerns about the number of wind turbine developments in the area. Vice Chairman, David Potts, says wind energy is a viable source of providing electricity for Scotland, but not at the expense of the taxpayer:

Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Energy Minister, said: "The Scottish Government strongly disagrees with this decision which was made without our consent and will have such a negative impact on a key sector of the Scottish economy. 

"The proposals have a disproportionate impact on Scotland as around 70 per cent of onshore wind projects in the UK planning system are here. There are many communities and companies who have invested significant amounts of money in renewables scheme and have now found the goal posts have been move, putting crucial investment and jobs at risk. I am keen to listen to their concerns, understand the impact and continue to work together in making representations to the UK Government."