Green jobs could be threatened by UK government spending cuts it has emerged this week.
Government departments are for the first time facing 25% budget reductions and this is expected to have significant consequences for the country.
One area of public spending at risk is ‘The Ports fund’. The fund was announced by the Labour government before the election and was said by many of the world leading wind turbine manufacturers such as Siemens to be one of the key factors in their decision to look for a UK manufacturing base. The fund was expected to be used to improve port facilities around the UK. Good port facilities are considered key to the rapid expansion of the offshore wind energy industry in the UK.
Charles Hendrey – the minister now in charge of the renewables division at the Department of Energy and Climate Change said “every commitment made by the last Government on renewables is under review“. The announcement came after the official launch of the 172 megawatt Gunfleet Sands wind farm off the east coast at Clacton on Sea.
Hendrey’s review, together with other major planning and renewable energy reviews are expected to potentially have a big impact on investor confidence. The big wind turbine manufacturers have not yet confirmed they would not come to the UK if the Ports fund does not materialise however a GE representative has said that it has added to the uncertainty beginning to surround the UK renewable energy industry.
