With the predicted decline in tax income from oil, gas and road fuels a UK government working party has been established to propose mechanisms to tax wind and solar energy sources. Church of England objects to wind turbines on church spires.
The Wind and Sun Advisory Committee (WASAC), chaired by Darren Jones (MP Bristol North West), has been taking evidence from
The issue of domestic energy generation has created heated debate. Zac Richards, Director of Infrastructure for the National Grid, suggested that domestic generators provided less than 0.1% of the power into the Grid so setting up systems to charge tax wouldn’t be economic. Industry lobbyists felt that all generation must be taxed to be equitable.
Government advisors favoured the model where all landowners would be levied based on the amount of wind energy crossing their land and solar energy impacting it. The landowners would have the option of offsetting this environment tax by capturing the energies and feeding it into the Grid. Church of England representatives objected pointing out that every church would have solar panels on their roofs, wind turbines on their spires and graveyards covered in solar panels.
In response to the Church of England’s concerns about the impact on the country’s cultural heritage, Toby Muggstone of the Libertarian Alliance scoffed and suggested they could solve the nation’s energy requirements with their huffing and puffing. Bishop Kelly grabbed Mr Muggstone by the collar and shouted “Do you wanna piece of me? Do ya?”, before order was restored.
The WASAC committee continues to hear evidence.