More than 100 Conservative MPs have written to Prime Minister David Cameron demanding a dramatic cut in subsidies for wind farms, and more power to communities to stop them being built.
Going against Government policy in what signals a major revolt, the group united with sceptics from across the political spectrum to demand an end to taxpayer funding of the farms.
Organised by backbencher Chris Heaton-Harris, the letter's 101 Conservative signatories include senior figures such as David Davis, Bernard Jenkin and Nicholas Soames.
The letter, which appeared in the Sunday Telegraph, read: "In these financially straitened times, we think it is unwise to make consumers pay, through taxpayer subsidy, for inefficient and intermittent energy production that typifies onshore wind turbines."
Although state funding for the sector is slowly being diminished, demands for a swifter end to the subsidies will be a headache for new Energy Secretary Ed Davey - promoted to the job after Chris Huhne's resignation.
Wind, both onshore and offshore, has been a key part of the green energy "revolution", but critics say the turbines are a blight on the countryside, and could potentially present health problems.
Subscribe