Letter: Wind of change

David Ross
Thursday 25 March 1999 20:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Your report "Labour rows back on wind power pledge," (23 March) understates the extent of the Government's abandonment of a policy designed to help the environment.

In the Budget, Gordon Brown put a tax on energy, refusing to discriminate between fuels which pollute and those, such as wind and wave, which do not. It is a depressing contrast with the one successful policy in this area introduced, strangely enough, by Nigel Lawson when he gave a price- differential to lead-free petrol. It will be a pity if Mr Brown's epitaph has to be: Worse than Lawson.

Renewable energy has always been at a disadvantage in Britain because Whitehall is under the spell of the rich and powerful lobbyists for nuclear power, oil and gas. They will go on creating environmental damage until ministers can be found with the courage to stand up to the established energy industries, and to the trade union barons who support them, and recognise the need to find something better.

DAVID ROSS

London SE5

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in