'MONUMENTAL STEP TO CUT POWER BILLS'

UK's biggest ever wind farm auction will make enough to run 12m homes

- BY GRAHAM HISCOTT Business and Consumer Editor

ENERGY companies will produce enough clean power to run 12 million homes after the biggest ever auction of wind farm rights.

The firms vied for contracts that guarantee the price for each unit of clean electricity they generate.

Contracts were awarded to eight new UK offshore farms, with the total value of the projects worth £22billion.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Clean, homegrown power is the right choice for this country to bring down bills for good and this auction will create thousands of jobs.

“With these results, Britain is taking back control of our energy sovereignty.

“This is a win for those who want Britain to stand on our own feet, controlling our own energy rather than depending on markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.