Couldn't agree more
Follow
Nathan Bennett
@nathansbennett
Mainly tweet about renewables and politics - as you'd expect from the head of public affairs (& board member now too). Views my own
Joined February 2011
Nathan Bennett’s Tweets
Look at the tax breaks the USA are offering offshore wind manufacturers as part of the Inflation Reduction Act 👇
This is on top of their $10bn pot for 'Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit'.
The CBI are right, the UK cannot sit still & assume we'll stay leaders in offshore wind.
Quote Tweet
Tony Danker, director-general of the CBI, will say that in the past two years the UK has lost £4.3 billion in green-technology market share and the high-skill jobs that go with it thetimes.co.uk/article/green-
3
13
36
Exciting to see the Welsh Government taking forward a review of Wales' renewable energy targets.
Headline goal is to have the equivalent of 100% of Wales' electricity consumption come from renewables by 2035.
Full details 👇
gov.wales/sites/default/
Quote Tweet
Wales is already on track to hit our renewable energy target 
But we want to do more.
By 2035, we want all of our electricity to come from renewable energy 
gov.wales/wales-aims-mee
But we want to do more.
By 2035, we want all of our electricity to come from renewable energy
gov.wales/wales-aims-mee
0:32
12.6K views
2
5
18
Similarly, Labour are now at the point where Keir Starmer is talking about detailed policies, like Ofgem remit reform, to address related delays to renewable energy development.
If Govt don't use the Energy Bill to do address this (as Skidmore's advised), what does this say?
1
2
7
Show this thread
In her Times piece & Fabian speech acknowledges the elephant in the room for the clean energy sector - the UK is set to be totally outcompeted for investment by the US & EU.
Backbench Conservatives want to address this 👇 but where's Govt?
cityam.com/uk-and-eu-at-r
2
4
8
Show this thread
Worth reading 's speech. Cliche, but it should be a wake-up call to Govt.
Labour have long had higher renewable energy targets than Govt - but they're starting to look like a more credible party to deliver a renewables ramp up too.
E.g's 🧵
labour.org.uk/press/rachel-r
Quote Tweet
When I said I want to be Britain’s first green Chancellor, I meant it.
I want the electorate to judge me by my actions on tackling climate change.
I know Labour’s plans will bring down family energy bills, create jobs and boost energy security.
theguardian.com/money/2023/jan
2
4
15
Show this thread
Since Govt announced they're ending the ban on onshore wind, I've seen a lot of people come forward with ideas for what the new planning framework should look like
There are five questions I think you should ask any person or political party who does 👇
5
11
Trying to put this in perspective.
So six wind farms, over the course of a Parliament, will have paid for the Government’s £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund, with change to spare, just in rent.
Before they paid National Insurance for their thousands of workers, business rates etc.
4
13
41
Show this thread
Trying to put this in perspective.
So six wind farms, over the course of a Parliament, will have paid for the Government’s £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund, with change to spare, just in rent.
Before they paid National Insurance for their thousands of workers, business rates etc.
4
13
41
Show this thread
Wait a sec. Park the King Charles part of this story to one side
Can we just acknowledge that, in addition to providing electricity at such low cost it reduces energy bills - these six offshore wind farms alone will be paying the Chancellor £1bn every year in rent
That's huge!
12
43
179
Show this thread
Every time I speak to a journalist, I raise this. Even now, there's still an unfounded narrative that people in the North East are less up for renewables than most
The truth - it's where support is highest 👇
If you ask, they're annoyed there's not more clean energy investment
Quote Tweet
NEW @BritainRemade polling: 85% people in the North East support building new onshore wind thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23260505.
8
17
Another day - another enormous poll showing people like onshore wind.
Near to them as well.
Quote Tweet
Today's Twitter Poll: Do you support the building of new on-shore windfarms?
Show this poll
3
11
When the dust's settled on the onshore wind debate - we need to have a bigger discussion about how slowly our planning system is approving offshore wind
There's also offshore wind farms which could be built 3-5 years earlier, but the UK just isn't upgrading our grid fast enough
Quote Tweet
+ @samrichardswebb of @BritainRemade opens a @ConHome mini-series on growth. The planning system is holding growth back, he writes – and must be made to let go bit.ly/3Vifxvs
1
1
15
For those of you looking at the cold, dark, still day outside & wondering...
"as we switch to renewables - how do we keep the lights on when the sun isn't shining & the wind isn't blowing?"
have a explanatory video, just for you! 👇
1
8
17
#OnshoreWind is the one of the cheapest, quickest ways of generating clean energy, here is a list just of some that are helping UK businesses with their low-cost power!⚡️🏴 (1/12)
We picked out 10 of our favourite projects directly helping keep 🇬🇧 businesses energy costs down!🧵
1
9
17
Show this thread
Interesting intel from on Govt's thinking around onshore wind which would ring true with Grant Shapps' statements this morning
Quote Tweet
NEW: Rebels warn Rishi Sunak he could face 100-strong rebellion over housing and wind farms
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/
Show this thread
1
2
2
This is good news - Grant Shapps clarifying Govt is open to new onshore wind farms where local communities support it 👇
Also, positive he recognises that's exactly what 's amendment hopes to achieve. It's time to bring planning policy in line with Govt's ambitions
3
15
and despite what the 2-4% of the public who don't like onshore wind tell you - it's very important for the future of our planet that we build renewables.
Quote Tweet
Building new onshore wind wouldn't make a "marginal difference to climate change" as Simon claims.
In fact, building the 30GW the Climate Change Committee says we should would save 60 million tons of CO2 - equivalent to saving a forest the size of Northern Ireland. twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/s…
2
4
20
Show this thread
If the PM sets us on course to develop 30GW of onshore wind by 2030, industry expect this will create 27,000 high quality jobs across the UK, with a further 30,000 in operations and maintenance.
And for a Chancellor looking at reviving the economy - £45bn of GVA
9/10
2
4
17
Show this thread
As I've said before, it's so damn cheap companies like Octopus energy are offering customers who are happy to have a wind farm nearby up to £350 off their annual energy bill.
Why should we stand in the way of they of that?
8/10
Quote Tweet
That queue can now be formed here...
Let us know if you’d like a wind turbine in your neighbourhood and £350 off your bills!
octopus.energy/octopus-fan-cl
octopus.energy/octopus-fan-clShow this thread
2
3
13
Show this thread
Leadership is about leading, and the benefits of doing so here are really clear for the country.
Even before the current gas/price crisis, estimates suggested new onshore wind (to reach 30GW by 2030) would save billpayers £16bn this decade.
7/10
renewableuk.com/news/583052/Re
1
5
12
Show this thread
MPs overestimate opposition to onshore wind, which is the PM's challenge
But both Boris & Liz tested the public mood when they put forward place more progressive policy towards it & there was clear support
Also; Simon's proposing refrom, not revolution
1
2
10
Show this thread
Two former Conservative leaders, the Labour Leader, the Lib Dem Leader & Nicola Sturgeon all publicly support onshore wind.
As we're seeing - a larger and larger group of Conservative backbenchers are joining them by supporting Simon's amendment 👇
twitter.com/jackrdsn/statu
5/10
Quote Tweet
signatories and counting for @SimonClarkeMP’s amendment and @AlokSharma_RDG has just backed the campaign.
Again, great to see tories backing this common sense, pro-growth, pro-planet, pro-community, pro-energy sovereignty measure! Show this thread
1
3
15
Show this thread
And it's clear there is public support for local wind farms
76% of people would support a renewable energy project in their local area (81% Con voters)
72% of people who already live within 5 miles of an onshore wind farm support building more
4/10
1
4
16
Show this thread
Public support for onshore wind has been rising (36% of people support it more than they did 5 years ago), and is now very high
74% of the public support it
83% of Conservative voters
Swing voters (76%)
The Red wall (81-91%)
The Blue wall (81-92%)
3/10
2
3
20
Show this thread
The CBI, MakeUK, the FSB & NFU - orgs representing, collectively, our economy - all support onshore wind. It's low cost power that drives billions of £s of investment into the UK
NGOs & civil society groups (e.g. here, the RSPB) again also support 👇
2/10
3
5
27
Show this thread
Right, I've made a thread to try and clarify the sheer weight of public, business, civil society and political support for 's onshore wind amendment.
It's enormous.
1/10
Quote Tweet
In today’s @Telegraph, I make the urgent case for why we should drop our blanket ban on onshore wind, and let communities decide. It cuts bills, cuts emissions and strengthens our energy security.
telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/2
5
55
118
Show this thread
I'd have huge respect for the PM for facing down this level of cross party & public pressure were it for the good of the country, but it's not
It's clearly in the interests of billpayers & our economy to allow onshore wind where local people support it
telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/2
Quote Tweet
We know from the Truss Govt experience @RishiSunak won't meet a public backlash to allowing onshore wind where people want it - the public are v pro
He's won't meet opposition from Lab, Lib Dems or SNP; they support
Now Con backbenchers (incl former leaders) are backing it too twitter.com/jackrdsn/statu…
1
4
We know from the Truss Govt experience won't meet a public backlash to allowing onshore wind where people want it - the public are v pro
He's won't meet opposition from Lab, Lib Dems or SNP; they support
Now Con backbenchers (incl former leaders) are backing it too
Quote Tweet
signatories and counting for @SimonClarkeMP’s amendment and @AlokSharma_RDG has just backed the campaign.
Again, great to see tories backing this common sense, pro-growth, pro-planet, pro-community, pro-energy sovereignty measure! Show this thread
1
3
I said in Parliament in July, that where communities are positively welcoming of onshore in return for reduced bills, onshore should be kept on the table
So I will support ’s Levelling Up Bill amendment to lift the ban on onshore & let local communities decide
2/3
58
73
431
Building new onshore wind wouldn't make a "marginal difference to climate change" as Simon claims.
In fact, building the 30GW the Climate Change Committee says we should would save 60 million tons of CO2 - equivalent to saving a forest the size of Northern Ireland.
Quote Tweet
“Other people are frankly being bribed not to find it terrible”
Former National Trust Chair, Sir Simon Jenkins, addresses the sight of onshore winds turbines in Scotland and says a further roll out would threaten the British countryside
#Newsnight | bbc.in/2Ps915G
0:51
6.7K views
2
10
19
Right now - ahead of potential vote in Parliament to end the ban on onshore wind - a climate change denying org (funders unknown) is sending a briefing to MPs full of nonsense about it.
We know it's cheap & popular. Please take the time to tell your MP!👇
6
8
Exactly - lifting the onshore wind ban isn't just the right thing for billpayers, but it's politically popular.
When Boris re-ran onshore wind CfDs, there was only support.
When Liz said she'd allow it with community support, there was not a Fracking-esque backlash.
Quote Tweet
Come on @RishiSunak - letting communities build cheap, secure, clean onshore wind is a vote winner
thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-
1
4
12
Remember, both Boris & Liz, as leaders themselves, faced down the minority of backbenchers who oppose onshore wind to put in place more open policies - & they were met with public support for it
Where communities in Eng want cheap, clean energy - we shouldn't stand in their way
Quote Tweet
Delighted to have the backing of @BorisJohnson and @trussliz, together with MPs from right across the Conservative Party, for my amendment to allow onshore wind where (and only where) there is community consent. A pro growth, pro green policy at a time when we need both.
2
15
Delighted to have the backing of and , together with MPs from right across the Conservative Party, for my amendment to allow onshore wind where (and only where) there is community consent. A pro growth, pro green policy at a time when we need both.
912
313
1,562
A great overview of exciting developments in the UK's tidal stream sector 👇
At a critical time too - right now, Govt are considering if they'll continue to support investment in the sector (through their next clean power auctions).
Let's hope they do!
1
2
10
👏 . The Bill is about Levelling-up & Regeneration. That's exactly what allowing onshore wind where people want it would support
👷♀️Jobs & investment across the UK
⚡️Boosting our economy through low cost power
👨👧👦Benefits communities nearby eg wrydecroft-windfarm.co.uk
Quote Tweet
NEW: Former cabinet minister Simon Clarke has tabled an amendment to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to overturn the ban on new onshore wind
Tells me: "If we're going to have some anti-growth amendments on the bill we might as well have some pro-growth ones too"
Show this thread
3
7
23
45% levy on electricity generators?? Compared to 35% for O&G? What investment allowances are there? What will this mean for the £175bn investment we need in clean generation to the end of the decade?
12
68
173
Me and everyone else with pre-existing infrastructure spending commitments from Govt watching today's budget
6
A non-comprehensive list of things less popular than onshore wind:
- Boxing Day
- Fawlty Towers
- Winston Churchill
- soup
- the World Cup
- Shakespeare
- Spain
- Elvis
- Great British Bake Off
- Beyonce (has to be polling error)
Data from HT
Quote Tweet
This is so depressing. I have pointed out endlessly that every poll shows onshore wind is extremely popular - even among rural/Tory voters, even among people who already live near wind farms. And yet… (via Playbook)
1
23
54