'Enter at your own risk': Reform mayor warns green energy companies about seeking government support
Mayor Luke Campbell has warned clean energy companies from the Humber to seek government support “at your own risk” with the potential of Reform UK to come to power.
He made this statement seconds after describing £700,000 worth of funding from Ed Miliband for solar panels in Hull and East Yorkshire as “great”.
Mr Campbell made the comments at the latest executive meeting of the new Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Nigel Farage’s party is currently topping the polls, and he is becoming increasingly more bullish about forming the next government.
Deputy Leader Richard Tice recently wrote to firms giving them “formal notice” that the party would axe deals aimed at offering sustainable generators protection against market volatility.
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme sees developers guaranteed a fixed price for electricity – independent of the wholesale price – in the hope of encouraging companies to invest in renewable projects.
In a letter to companies including Octopus Energy and SSE Renewables , Mr Tice claimed “there is no public mandate for the real-world consequences” of the clean power agenda.
If Reform won an election, he said “we will seek to strike down all contracts signed under AR7” – the upcoming allocation round for CfDs.
At last week’s executive meeting, Mr Campbell was asked by a member of the public about his boss’ comments, saying: “In light of this statement what advice would the mayor give to companies in our area considering entering bids under AR7?”
The mayor responded: “I would suggest to enter at your own risk.
“I don’t have any solutions, I’m not an expert on green energy, I’m following guidelines of the current government and all I can work with is what’s in front of me.
“Enter at your own risk,” he added.
Mr Campbell made these comments just moments after praising the Government for granting almost £1m to Hull and East Riding councils for putting up rooftop solar panels.
He said: “In September, we can draw down the £700,000 funding for green energy which is great for both councils, which can save them some money.”
The clean power industry is a huge investor in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Siemens Gamesa, which makes wind turbine blades, is one of Hull’s biggest employers.
Hornsea 1 and Hornsea 2, which are two of the biggest off-shore wind farms in the world, are situated off the East Yorkshire coast.
Mr Tice’s letter followed a Government decision to allow offshore wind farms to be able to apply for the energy contracts while they are still waiting for full planning consent in a bid to hasten development.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also recently confirmed it would back the Viking carbon capture and storage project in the Humber, which is set to bring in £15bn of private investment and thousands of jobs.
Drax’s Richard Gwilliam, chair of the Humber Energy Board, told The Yorkshire Post: “Having cross-party consensus and support around decarbonisation has been important for the whole region to channel investment decisions in.
“Recognising that net zero will be a political hot potato come the next election, that's something that we're tracking and observing.
“Today we have a government in post that wants to decarbonise our economy, and that's sufficient to help companies from the Humber continue to invest in critical forms of technology that keeps these plants going and reduces our carbon footprint.”
York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith described Mr Tice’s comments as “complete crap”.
“They have to understand that this is happening and we have to do things differently,” he added.
“All combined authorities got £700,000 of funding to do some net zero projects and solar panels on roofs for example.
“All the mayors, including the Reform mayors, were happy to take that money.
“So we are in a position where we have to do things differently, and they're using it as a political football and it's dangerous.”