HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Gordon Brown heralds major wind energy expansion [January 2010]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has said the rights granted to energy companies today to develop the biggest expansion of wind energy in the world, will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions and boosting low-carbon jobs in the UK.

A number of companies have been given the go-ahead to develop new offshore wind farms by the Crown Estate, which owns the UK’s coastal seabeds.

The announcement has the potential to see an additional 32GW of clean electricity feeding into the UK grid.

Gordon Brown said the offshore wind industry could be worth £75 billion and support up to 70,000 jobs by 2020. He added that the Government’s support for offshore wind energy has put the UK ahead of every other country in the world.

“This new round of licences provides a substantial new platform for investing in UK industrial capacity.

“This announcement will make a significant and practical contribution to reducing our CO2 emissions and the Government will work with developers and the Crown Estate to support the growing offshore wind industry and help remove barriers to rapid development.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK has one of the best wind energy resources in Europe.

“Today’s news shows we’re creating the right conditions for the energy industry to invest in harnessing it.

“This is one of the strongest signals yet that the UK is locked irreversibly into a low carbon, energy secure prosperous future.”