An amicable parting of the ways - RSPB and energy company decide to pull plug on 10-year partnership

All on its lonesome - the single turbine at Sandy in Bedfordshire

THE 10-year partnership between the RSPB and onshore energy company Ecotricity is over. 

This has been confirmed by the former which states:  "After a decade of working together, we felt the partnership had reached a natural conclusion."

Under the tie-up arrangement, Ecotricity - led by Australian entrepreneur and Labour Party donor Dale Vince -  was given whole pages to promote the company in the bird charity's quarterly magazine.

The RSPB received commission payments - totalling more than £250,000 over 10 years -  for any members who signed up to the windfarm company for their electricity supplies.

There was a suspicion that, under the agreement, the charity would be under an implicit obligation not to oppose any planning applications submitted by Ecotricity for new windfarms.

However, this was categorically denied by the RSPB. 

The charity's statement continues: "By working in partnership and sharing our experience and expertise, we believe both organisations have benefited from a hugely successful decade.

"Now it is time to bring this success to the wider industry and we are proactively exploring potential new partnerships."

Meanwhile, the energy company said: "After a decade of working together, our partnership with the RSPB has come to an end. 

"If you switched to Ecotricity and quoted RSPB, we donated £25 for each meter switched, on your behalf. 

"For every year you stayed with Ecotricity, we donated a further £25." 

It added: "This partnership has come to an end, but we are still keen supporters of the RSPB's work to help wildlife and combat the climate crisis."

Despite the parting of the way, the Gloucestershire-based energy company retains an operating wind turbine on the RSPB's landholdings at  Sandy in Bedfordshire where the latter  has its HQ.

The Wryneck says: Many RSPB members were always uncomfortable about the relationship between the society and a windfarm company. The sad fact is that collision with turbines has maimed or killed many birds. It is worrying, therefore, that potential new partnerships with other windfarm companies are being "proactively explored". Any deals may prove to be lucrative but the RSPB risks finding itself compromised and liable to significant reputational damage.