§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to commence a tendering process to construct a demonstration offshore wind farm.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to allow community-based wind power schemes to advertise for local investment; and if he will seek to place a statutory duty on local authorities to identify suitable sites for such developments.
§ Mr. EggarI am not aware of any impediment to community-based wind power schemes advertising for local investment.Planning Policy Guidance Note 22: Renewable Energy advises local authorities to include renewables in their development plan and provides guidance on how this should be done. It includes an annex on wind power.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to make an announcement of when wind power developers can next apply for contracts under the non-fossil fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement concerning the procedure for the award of such contracts.
§ Mr. EggarI refer the hon. Member to my reply of 21 July to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss),Official Report, column 339.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that the next tranche of wind power contracts should be for not less than 700 MW.
§ Mr. EggarI currently expect to make the third renewable energy order under the non-fossil fuel obligation for approximately 300 to 400 MW of new capacity in total but will review this in light of the quality and cost of proposals received. I am considering a separate band for wind power within that total.