Energy policy on the wrong track, says ex-CBI boss

A leading business voice has spoken out against subsidies for renewables in the UK’s energy policy. Sir John Banham, Ex-Director General of the CBI, has claimed that billions of pounds […]

A leading business voice has spoken out against subsidies for renewables in the UK’s energy policy.

Sir John Banham, Ex-Director General of the CBI, has claimed that billions of pounds spent on wind and solar are “wasted”.

He told ELN at the UK Energy Summit: “We should stop subsidising very wasteful technologies like offshore wind and solar farms which are costing billions.

“The subsidy is of the same order of magnitude as our national defence budget every year. It’s simply unsustainable and people won’t stand for it.”

Instead, he argued that the UK should be encouraging people “to adopt the technologies of the future and not the very expensive technologies of the past that are simply adding to people’s energy bills at a time when they can least afford them.”

Related stories:

UK wasting billions on renewables policy

UK future energy policy outlined

UK energy policy adds 40% to SME bills

Latest Podcast