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| Government unveils new powers to approve onshore wind farms | Government unveils new powers to approve onshore wind farms |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The government has unveiled plans to give ministers the final say on approving large onshore wind farms rather than leaving decisions to local councils, where opposition has often been fierce. | The government has unveiled plans to give ministers the final say on approving large onshore wind farms rather than leaving decisions to local councils, where opposition has often been fierce. |
| The plan is among proposals announced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on Friday as part of what the government is calling an "ambitious" action plan for reaching 95% clean energy in the UK by 2030. | The plan is among proposals announced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on Friday as part of what the government is calling an "ambitious" action plan for reaching 95% clean energy in the UK by 2030. |
| Miliband also wants to give powers to the energy regulator to prioritise projects in the queue waiting to link up with the National Grid. | Miliband also wants to give powers to the energy regulator to prioritise projects in the queue waiting to link up with the National Grid. |
| But Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security Claire Coutinho said the plans would simply push bills "even higher". | But Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security Claire Coutinho said the plans would simply push bills "even higher". |
| The government wants to bring large onshore wind projects back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime in England - in line with other energy infrastructure. | The government wants to bring large onshore wind projects back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime in England - in line with other energy infrastructure. |
| Labour's plans would mean the government would have the final say on approving wind farm projects larger than 100MW, rather than councils. | Labour's plans would mean the government would have the final say on approving wind farm projects larger than 100MW, rather than councils. |
| Coutinho said Labour's "rush" to decarbonise the electricity system by 2030 would push up electricity prices and cause more hardship for people across Britain. | Coutinho said Labour's "rush" to decarbonise the electricity system by 2030 would push up electricity prices and cause more hardship for people across Britain. |
| "We need cheap, reliable energy - not even higher bills," she said. | "We need cheap, reliable energy - not even higher bills," she said. |
| But Miliband told BBC Breakfast on Friday that the current reliance on gas leaves consumers vulnerable to price changes. | But Miliband told BBC Breakfast on Friday that the current reliance on gas leaves consumers vulnerable to price changes. |
| "At the moment we are at the mercy of the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets - gas prices are subject to the decisions of petrostates and dictators," he said. | "At the moment we are at the mercy of the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets - gas prices are subject to the decisions of petrostates and dictators," he said. |
| "It is time to have homegrown clean energy that we can control." | "It is time to have homegrown clean energy that we can control." |
| Prior to the election Labour predicted that households would save £300 on their energy bills as a result of its green measures - citing research by independent think tank Ember. , external | |
| On Friday Miliband reasserted this figure but said it would be "up to £300" - suggesting it could be lower. | |
| Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of clean energy. But there has been a 94% decline in projects in England since 2015 when the previous Conservative government tightened planning regulations for wind farms - following pushback from local communities over potential environmental damage. | Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of clean energy. But there has been a 94% decline in projects in England since 2015 when the previous Conservative government tightened planning regulations for wind farms - following pushback from local communities over potential environmental damage. |
| Subsequently, only a small number of local objections would be enough to effectively block new projects. | Subsequently, only a small number of local objections would be enough to effectively block new projects. |
| Following Labour's general election victory, planning rules for onshore wind were eased in September 2024. But renewable energy groups said they did not go far enough. | Following Labour's general election victory, planning rules for onshore wind were eased in September 2024. But renewable energy groups said they did not go far enough. |
| Housing plans not war on rural England | Housing plans not war on rural England |
| The public will still be consulted on new wind farms, but the secretary of state will be empowered to take any final decision -based on national priorities such as tackling climate change. | The public will still be consulted on new wind farms, but the secretary of state will be empowered to take any final decision -based on national priorities such as tackling climate change. |
| Mr Miliband told the BBC's Today programme on Friday: "There are difficult trade offs here and unless we change the way we do things we are going to be left exposed as a country. | Mr Miliband told the BBC's Today programme on Friday: "There are difficult trade offs here and unless we change the way we do things we are going to be left exposed as a country. |
| "In the end it will be a national decision." | "In the end it will be a national decision." |
| The government maintains any project will need to have "direct community benefits" and proposes to establish a recovery fund to invest in nature projects as compensation for any environmental damage. | The government maintains any project will need to have "direct community benefits" and proposes to establish a recovery fund to invest in nature projects as compensation for any environmental damage. |
| Under previous planning systems it was easier for local objections to block new onshore wind projects | Under previous planning systems it was easier for local objections to block new onshore wind projects |
| The 136-page action plan includes other measures to accelerate renewable energy. | |
| Among these are prioritising projects to enable an early connection to the electricity grid, and incentivising private investment. | |
| The government wants to move away from a "first-come first-served" approval process for the grid, and prioritise those likely to be most useful. | The government wants to move away from a "first-come first-served" approval process for the grid, and prioritise those likely to be most useful. |
| There are currently thousands of projects waiting in a queue to be approved to be connected to the UK grid. If all the projects were given the go-ahead, 739GW of energy would be added to the system, 14 times the amount of renewable energy the country currently has. | There are currently thousands of projects waiting in a queue to be approved to be connected to the UK grid. If all the projects were given the go-ahead, 739GW of energy would be added to the system, 14 times the amount of renewable energy the country currently has. |
| Labour projects these reforms could attract £40bn a year from mainly private investment in "homegrown clean power projects". | Labour projects these reforms could attract £40bn a year from mainly private investment in "homegrown clean power projects". |
| The industry has been calling for many of these measures for years and broadly welcomed the plans. | The industry has been calling for many of these measures for years and broadly welcomed the plans. |
| Lucy Yu, CEO for think tank Centre for Net Zero, said: "The Clean Power Action Plan shows that the government isn't afraid to be bold, illustrated by the breadth and nature of proposed changes." | Lucy Yu, CEO for think tank Centre for Net Zero, said: "The Clean Power Action Plan shows that the government isn't afraid to be bold, illustrated by the breadth and nature of proposed changes." |
| Yu, who is also a government adviser, warned ministers not to "forget the central role of consumers and communities in the energy transition". | Yu, who is also a government adviser, warned ministers not to "forget the central role of consumers and communities in the energy transition". |
| "The British public's support will be key, and the government must ensure clean power delivery has their interests at heart." | "The British public's support will be key, and the government must ensure clean power delivery has their interests at heart." |
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