Benj Sykes, co-chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council and Ørsted UK country manager for offshore: “…offshore wind is set to take its place at the heart of our low-carbon, affordable and reliable electricity system of the future. “This relentlessly innovative sector is revitalising parts of the country with transformational, sustainable opportunities,especially coastal communities, from Wick in the north of Scotland to the Isle of Wight, and from Barrow-in-Furness to the Humber. Companies are burgeoning in clusters, creating new centres of excellence in this clean growth boom. The Sector Deal will ensure that even more of these companies win work not only in the UK, but around the world in a global offshore wind market set to be worth £30bn a year by 2030”. Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary: “to date the so-called ‘green jobs revolution’ has largely been a figment of the imagination of politicians of all parties and those pushing for an over reliance on renewables – with all the risks to our future energy supply and economic competitiveness. The track record so far has been one of work for foreign companies or poorly paid, casualised employment….“If Claire Perry’s vision is actually to be achieved with decent, well-paid and skilled jobs, then the government will need new rules about renewable energy sources. Companies in receipt of taxpayer subsidy must be required to source the work and jobs in the UK, with a strict condition they cannot be registered in tax havens. The sector will also need to be covered by collective bargaining agreements.”
New Power 7th March 2019 read more »
