Ulster Unionist economy spokesperson, Adrian Cochrane- Watson has berated DETI Minister Johnathan Bell for his no show at Assembly question time today.  He was due to answer questions in the chamber on the closure of a government subsidiary scheme for on shore wind energy projects.

Mr Watson said:

“Today’s Question Time was an opportunity for Minister Bell to bring some clarity and consistency to his policy on renewable energy.  He did not appear, and confusion still reigns.

“With the change of Government at Westminster, the subsidies available for on shore wind turbines and wind farms are being phased out earlier than expected.  In the rest of the UK, the Renewables Obligation (RO) subsidy for onshore wind will end on 1 April 2016, instead of 2017.

 “Here in Northern Ireland, Minister Bell issued a press release on 18 June, stating, ‘I want to make it clear now however that I do not intend to follow the Westminster government’s policy to close the existing scheme early.’

 “However, last week when Mr Bell yo yoed back into office, he u-turned and is now consulting on the closure of the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) scheme for new onshore wind projects from 1 April 2016 to mirror what will happen in the rest of the UK. 

 “I would have liked to have asked the Minister what he was playing at today, but in the absence of that opportunity, I would call on him to answer the general public: What does he say to the farmers who have spent up to £10,000 attempting to get a single wind turbine up on their land, who could be left high and dry? 

 “Whatever your point of view on wind farms and the Renewable Obligation Certificates which have been used to encourage them, we need clarity and certainty, not a policy which, it appears, is being made up by a Minister sticking his finger in the wind.”