23 September 2010 – Commenting on the opening of the Thanet windfarm, Kent’s Green Euro-MP, Keith Taylor, said:

“I warmly welcome the opening of the world’s largest offshore windfarm off the Kent coast today – and sincerely hope it will be the first of many new renewable energy projects in the UK. It’s clear that, if we are to reduce our carbon emissions in line with UK and EU targets, and achieve greater energy security for future generations, we must move away from our dependence on fossil fuels and invest heavily in green technologies.”

“While the opening of the Thanet windfarm is certainly great news for the region, the fact that less than 20% of the £900m investment in the project has gone to British firms is a real cause for concern.

“The UK could be at the forefront of a global revolution in renewable energy and energy efficiency, benefitting from the thousands of green jobs that such an energy transformation will create – yet successive governments have failed to show adequate vision and create the right environment for investment, while the private sector has been stubbornly slow to act.”

ENDS