Comment on easing of onshore wind ban

Commenting on the news that the Government plans ease to restrictions on building onshore wind farms in England [1], Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “The ban on onshore wind has been a seven year anomaly in UK energy policy, keeping household bills higher and the UK more dependent on foreign gas. Whether deployment speeds up will now come down to the detail of the planning rule changes.

“The next big planning call from the government will be the Cumbria coal mine. With the mine’s particular type of coal no use for the UK power or steel industries and the UK having led the global campaign to phase-out coal, a lot rides on Michael Gove’s decision.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Government to launch consultation on local support on onshore wind: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-launch-consultation-on-local-support-on-onshore-wind

For more information:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net