Last updated at 16:16, Tuesday, 21 February 2012

IT is a great pleasure to be here with you all.

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My first week in the job and I’m opening the world’s largest windfarm. Over the next few months I imagine I will continue to open the world’s largest windfarms.

This is something I have been committed to for many years. The drive towards a renewable energy strategy. Even at uni I was thinking about these issues.

To take over the mantle from Chris Huhne is something I am absolutely delighted to do.

Chris did a tremendous job taking over the strategies the previous government put a lot into. Just because there is a change at the helm, there is no change in direction; we are completely committed to this strategy.

I am disappointed I couldn’t see the windfarm because of the weather but what is dramatic about it isn’t just the size but the speed with which it has been constructed. That is a real tribute to the team involved.

Speeding up windfarm construction is important in driving down costs.

This project is special because it’s the first time we have seen investment from pension funds.

It shows people have confidence and we have a long-term strategy and there is money to be made. I hope you will continue to invest.

The government wants this country to be a leader in the renewable sector, it’s great news for our economy but the green expertise too.

It is good news British companies are getting involved in the manufacture of the turbines and supply chain.

Offshore wind can make a real contribution to our overall energy strategy. It is quite important that we can show that as we develop more offshore windfarms we can keep the costs down.

What has been clear to me in my first week is that the industry is working hard to get these costs down and I want to pay real tribute to the industry... This week they said they were expecting 50 per cent of the supply chain will come from British firms is a very positive message.

Siemens have played a role in this project – they are planning a plant in Hull, which is also good news and a sign of confidence in this industry.

It is important to stress these aren’t just one-off developments, since April over £1bn has been invested in offshore wind in the UK that will support thousands of new jobs. The UK is the best place to invest in offshore wind. We have got 250,000 people working in the industry in the UK, if this growth continues by the end of the decade we will have 70,000 more.

I am really ambitious that Britain can lead here. We have some of the best potential of any country in the world, it would be crazy not to exploit these opportunities and it has really capped off a very exciting week to join you.

First published at 10:43, Saturday, 18 February 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk