CONSERVATIVE MP David Mowat has written to the Prime Minister to call for an end to subsidies given to companies providing wind power.

But he says it does not make him anti-green and believes ‘more enlightened’ supporters of the environment lobby agree with him.

The Warrington South MP was among 100 Conservatives to send the letter at the weekend saying the emphasis on wind power to solve the country’s energy crisis is wrong.

Mr Mowat said he believes nuclear and not wind power is more likely to help the Government achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

He says meeting this target can only done by reducing waste and demand, building nuclear power stations or more renewable energy such as wind farms.

He said: “This has a cost of around double that of nuclear, effectively this is a regressive tax on consumers and businesses.

“It is my belief that the Government has the wrong balance.

“The consequence is higher bills for consumers, a real risk of blackouts and energy intensive industries moving to other countries.

“My position is accepted by the more enlightened members of the Green movement such as George Monbiot who understand that the current focus on costly renewables actually undermine our climate change priorities.”

He added that by building more nuclear power stations, the employment levels in Warrington could double in the sector from a current 3,000 to 6,000.

But the move has been heavily criticised with opponents saying the letter is designed to appease rural Tory MPs where constituents are heavily against wind farms.

Labour spokesman for Warrington Nick Bent said Mr Mowat is ‘dangerously’ aligning himself with an anti-green faction within the Conservative party.

He said: “Warrington South needs more green energy and more green jobs, and we also need an MP who will champion the town rather than pander to a failed Tory Chancellor.”

But Warrington Friends of the Earth say Mr Mowat’s position could cost jobs and put residents at risk of paying more.

And Neil Kingsnorth, from the group, urged him to changed his mind.

He added: “Out there is a rapidly growing green energy industry and we are brilliantly placed to become world leaders, creating jobs and energy security for the UK and helping to tackle the very real threat of a dangerous changing global climate. “Yet he prefers to turn his back on this opportunity and push instead for an approach that would lead to higher bills and a greater environmental threat. “Fossil fuel prices are the number one cause of energy price rises and will continue to rise, whereas the price of onshore windpower is likely to go down as we invest in, develop and improve this technology.”