Changes

==Articles Dr [[John Constable]], director of policy and resources==research is reported as saying "The Government's plans for wind are wildly unrealistic. [[Wind power]] is going to be very expensive, very difficult and ultimately very costly."<ref>"[http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/WINDFARM-SUBSIDIES-163-1BN-YEAR/article-1749496-detail/article.html Wind farm subsidies top £1bn a year]", ''Western Morning News'', January 25, 2010.</ref>

==Overview==The Renewable Energy Foundation provides "strong support" for local objectors to planning applications for windfarms. <ref>Polly Toynbee, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/jan/05/comment.politics Nimbys can't be allowed to put a block on wind farms]", ''Guardian'', January 5, 2007.</ref> Dr Constable is reported to tour the country to give speeches at local planning meetings opposing wind farms on behalf of the REF. One environmental activist described the organization thus "The Renewable Energy Foundation''' is a sham organisation; it has nothing to do with [[renewable energy]]. It is a front groupfor industrial lobby groups which have interests in fossil fuels and [[nuclear power]] or a think tank opposed to the widespread introduction of wind farms ." <ref>Robert Brooks, "[http://www.telegraphjournallive.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/7840035/Firmsnorth-paideast-tonews/todays-shutnews/tm_headline=wind-downfarm-windopponents-farmsface-whennew-thebattle-wind-isfront&method=full&objectid=19427587&page=2&siteid=50081-blowingname_page.htmlWind farm opponents face new battle front]", ''Journal Live'', July 9, 2007.</ref>

The REF approves of the [[Conservative Party]]'s approach to the economics of energy. Dr John Constable, director of policy said “Subsidies in the energy sector have distorted investment patterns and left the UK with a dysfunctional and research is reported unbalanced electricity sector, as saying "The Government's plans for wind are wildly unrealistic. Wind power is going to be very expensive, very difficult well as imposing disproportionate and ultimately very costlyrising costs on the consumer."”<refname="green paper">"[http://www.thisiswesternmorningnewsref.coorg.uk/newsindex.php/WINDFARMpress-SUBSIDIESreleases/141-163conservative-1BNparty-YEAR/articleenergy-1749496green-detail/article.htmlpaper Conservative Party Energy Green Paper]", Renewable Energy Foundation, March 19, 2010.</ref>

The Renewable Energy Foundation provides "strong support" REF has consistently and vociferously opposed the Renewables Obligation.<ref>[http://www.ref.org.uk/index.php/about-ref About page], REF, accessed August 2010.</ref> The Renewables Obligation is the current main mechanism for local objectors to planning applications for windfarmssupporting large scale generation of renewable electricity. <ref>"[http://www.guardiandecc.cogov.uk/commentisfreeen/2007content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/janpolicy/05renew_obs/commentrenew_obs.politicsaspx Renewables Obligation]", The Department of Energy and Climate Change, October 2010.</ref> Dr Constable is reported to tour the country to give speeches at local planning meetings opposing wind farms on behalf of Instead the REF . One environmental activist described the organization thus “The Renewable Energy Foundation argue that carbon capture and storage (known as [[clean coal]]) is a sham organisation; it has nothing to do with renewable energy. It is a front for industrial lobby groups which have interests in fossil fuels viable and nuclear powermature proposition." <ref>Richard Girling, "[http://www.journallivetimesonline.co.uk/north-east-tol/news/todays-newsscience/tm_headline=wind-farm-opponents-face-new-battle-front&method=full&objectid=19427587&page=2&siteid=50081-name_pagearticle2631117.htmlece How coal is the future]", ''The Sunday Times'', October 14, 2007.</ref>

==Charitable status and funding==The REF approves of the [[Conservative Party]]'s approach to the economics of energy. Dr Constable, said “Subsidies Renewable Energy Foundation recieved over £300 000 in donations in the energy sector have distorted investment patterns and left the UK with a dysfunctional and unbalanced electricity sector2009, as well as imposing disproportionate and rising costs on but the consumersource of funding is obscure. ”<refname="annual">"[http://www.refcharity-commission.orggov.uk/indexScannedAccounts/Ends60/0001107360_ac_20090430_e_c.pdf Annual Report], REF, April, 30, 2009.</ref> It is reported that popular UK game Show host [[Noel Edmonds]] is a contributor<ref>"[http://www.phpjoabbess.com/press-releasestag/141-conservative-partyrenewable-energy-green-paperfoundation/ Cuccinelli : Want Fries With That?]", ''Jo Abbess: Hearing Truth on Climate Chaos'', October 26th, 2010.</ref> , indeed his name appears on the Company's Annual Report.<ref name="annual" />

The REF has consistently and vociferously opposed is registered charity number 1107360, the Renewables Obligation <ref>declared activity is :"[http://wwwTO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN SUBJECTS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROTECTION, ENHANCEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.ref.org.uk/index.php/about-ref]"</ref> The Renewables Obligation is the current main mechanism for supporting large scale generation of renewable electricity.<ref>"[http://www.decccharity-commission.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mixSHOWCHARITY/renewableRegisterOfCharities/policy/renew_obs/renew_obsCharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1107360&SubsidiaryNumber=0 The Renewable Energy Foundation]"</ref> Instead the REF argue that carbon capture and storage (known as [[clean coal]]) is a viable and mature proposition, Charity Commission, accessed August 2010.<ref>"[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article2631117.ece]"</ref>

  ==Charitable Status and Funding==The Renewable Energy Foundation recieved over £300 000 in donations in 2009, but the source of funding is obscure<ref>"[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ScannedAccounts/Ends60/0001107360_ac_20090430_e_c.pdf]"</ref>funding is obscure. It is reported that popular UK game Show host [[Noel Edmonds]] is a contributor<ref>"[http://www.joabbess.com/tag/renewable-energy-foundation/]"</ref> , indeed his name appears on the Company's Annual Report.<ref>"[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ScannedAccounts/Ends60/0001107360_ac_20090430_e_c.pdf]"</ref><BR> The REF is registered charity number 1107360, the declared activity is :"TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN SUBJECTS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROTECTION, ENHANCEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT."<ref>"[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/SHOWCHARITY/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1107360&SubsidiaryNumber=0]"</ref> ==Staff and Trusteestrustees==*Dr [[John Constable]], Director of Policy and Research <ref>name="[http://www.ref.org.uk/index.php/press-releases/141-conservative-party-energy-green-paper]"</ref><BR>*Dr [[Lee Moroney]], planning director , Trustee <BR> *[[Timothy John Windham Hale]], Trustee<BR>*[[Carol Bell]], Trustee<BR>*[[Colin Davie]], Trustee<BR>*[[Guy De Selliers]], Trustee <ref>"[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/SHOWCHARITY/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1107360&SubsidiaryNumber=0Trustees]", Charity Commission, accessed August 2010.</ref><BR>*[[Campbell Dunford]] ,Chief Executive<ref>"[http://www.ref.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=58UK Renewable Energy Data 2002-2010]", REF, accessed August 2010.</ref>

  ==Contact Details==Renewable Energy Foundation <BR>21 John Adam Street<BR>London<BR>WC2N 6JG Company Registration Number 5222782<BRbr>

* [[Front Groupsgroups]] 

Website of the Renewable Energy Foundation http://www.ref.org.uk/<BR>REF's Technical Advisory Group *[http://www.ref.org.uk/index.php/about-ref/technical-advisory-group<BR>REF's Technical Advisory Group biographies ], REF, accessed August 2010.*[http://www.ref.org.uk/index.php/about-ref/technical-advisory-group/biographiesREF's Technical Advisory Group biographies], REF, accessed August 2010.<BR>We're not anti-wind farms - but they should be offshore *John Constable, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/jan/11/comment.renewableenergy ===External articles===We're not anti-wind farms - but they should be offshore]", ''Guardian'', January 11, 2007.

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