MORE than 100 Tory MPs have written to Prime Minister David Cameron calling for a dramatic cut in subsidies for onshore wind farms and more influence for local people to stop them being built.
In a major revolt against Government policy, they joined forces with politicians from other parties to express serious concerns over the level of taxpayers' money going to the sector.
State help for one of the most controversial sources of renewable energy is being cut, but only slowly, under plans set out by ministers last year.
However, in what will be an early headache for new Energy Secretary Ed Davey – promoted to the job after Chris Huhne's resignation last week – the MPs demanded an acceleration.
"In these financially straitened times, we think it is unwise to make consumers pay, through taxpayer subsidy, for inefficient and intermittent energy production that typifies onshore wind turbines," they wrote.
They also expressed concerns the proposed National Planning Policy Framework for England "diminishes the chances of local people defeating onshore wind farm proposals through the planning system". Critics say the giant turbines are a blot on the countryside and could cause health problems.
Organised by backbencher Chris Heaton-Harris, the letter's 101 Tory signatories include senior figures such as David Davis and Nicholas Soames.
Among them is Matthew Hancock, a close ally of Chancellor George Osborne, suggesting that the Treasury is sympathetic to the calls.
Downing Street said: "We need a low-carbon infrastructure and onshore wind is a cost-effective part of the UK's diverse energy mix."
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