"Reform’s anti-renewables stance ‘putting jobs and energy bills at risk’

Industry says party’s threat to strip wind and solar subsidies if it enters power undermines national interest

    Business live – latest updates

Jillian Ambrose and Matthew Weaver
Thu 17 Jul 2025 19.22 AEST

Britain’s green energy industry has accused the Reform UK party of undermining the national interest by threatening to strip public subsidies for wind and solar projects if it comes to power.

Groups representing Britain’s biggest clean energy investors said the populist party was “putting politics before prosperity” after Reform’s deputy leader gave “formal notice” to large developers that it would axe any deals struck in an upcoming renewables subsidy auction this summer.

The government auction allows developers to bid for contracts-for-difference, guaranteeing them a minimum price for electricity for up to 20 years.

In a letter sent to energy companies including SSE and Octopus Energy, Reform claimed there was “no public mandate for the real-world consequences” of the clean power agenda and said all subsidies would be scrapped.

Richard Tice, the deputy leader of the party founded by Nigel Farage, added that developers seeking a subsidy contract in the upcoming auction would “do so at your own risk” because the party would “seek to strike down all contracts” if it gained power.

“The political consensus that has sheltered your industry for nearly two decades is fracturing,” Tice said.

Industry leaders disputed the claims, saying Reform’s threat risked thousands of green jobs and could push up energy bills for homes and businesses by making the UK more reliant on volatile global gas markets.

James Alexander, the chief executive of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association, said: “This letter risks putting politics before prosperity by issuing threats to developers in one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries.

“Investors wholeheartedly recognise these long-term investment opportunities. It is a great shame that some politicians would rather attack the sector instead of seizing the huge potential that it offers.”

The Renewable UK trade association said this month that the number of people working in the offshore wind industry had climbed by a quarter in the last two years, from just over 32,000 to nearly 40,000. It estimated that 74,000 to 95,000 people will be needed to meet the government’s goal of quadrupling offshore wind power production by the end of the decade, with the highest numbers of new jobs expected to be created in Scotland, the east of England, and in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Ana Musat, the association’s policy director, said: “Every recent opinion poll shows that the vast majority of people support the development of renewable energy."

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/17/reforms-anti-renewables-stance-...

Strangely, Reform isn't even, as yet, elected, but they're complaining about reduced subsidies.

And all this from promoters who keep insisting that solar and wind are cheaper than fossil fuels. One has to wonder why they need the subsidies in the first place.

.

.. introducing the all-new energy renewable Electronic Nerd Personal Robot... the eNerd!!  The latest technology eNerd will bring to you all the facilities of the older style home robot, along with a host of NEW functions such as Supplementary Thinking - an incredible boost for the student ... in extreme cases of wokeness and other mental dissolution, your eNerd can actually take over the brain function of the person suffering from this condition and fucntion within the home environment in place of that family member....... your all new eNerd is capable of reconciling all Composite Inanities (compoanies) and setting the entire household on the correct path without the hard work of actually thinking for themselves... get your all new lastest technology eNerd from REFORM - Robotic Extension Facilities Overcoming Run-down Mentality .....A Grappler Enterprises company, all rights reserved .......   please note - you can have any colour you want as long as it's green ................                            Grappler advice for the day .... never give a Gemini a chance with words.. they are imbued with mental reflexes like liquid lightning in capsule form and their wit is unbounded by common or normal humour constraints ......