16 Dec 2024
A wind farm building spree could be making its way to the UK following Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s latest plans to push ahead with his renewable energy agenda.
Communities and local residents in the Borders, as well as across the UK, are now worried and angry by the possibility that their concerns could be brushed to the side by unelected planning officers.
Through his Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is seeking to classify wind turbines and solar farms as “nationally significant infrastructure projects”, meaning they will be treated with the same level of importance as airports and power plants.
The shake-up could mean that residents, communities and councils will no longer be able to block, amend or delay green energy projects.
This would apply to wind farm projects that exceed 100 megawatts (MW) in capacity – roughly equivalent to 15-20 wind turbines – which would classify them as a “nationally significant infrastructure project” (NSIP).
In the Borders we have seen the planning system work as it should when it comes to planning proposals for wind farm developments. Communities in the Scottish Borders are already up in arms regarding the over-proliferation of wind farms, however many are now concerned it could bulldoze projects through at a faster pace, with very few checks and balances.
The changes are set to form part of Labour’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill to be debated next year. If approved, the bill would effectively mean an end to local control over large wind and solar farms.
The measures put forward are thought to be so controversial that party leaders have suggested holding it back until after council elections in May.
Adding to all of this, Ed Miliband has been accused of betraying British voters after dropping Labour's manifesto promise to save households £300 on their energy bills. In fact, he has hinted in recent days that costs may rise in the short term.
In an era when public finances are extremely tight, how will the influx in new wind farms be financed?
It is believed that it takes about twice the amount of time to establish new transmission lines, and we know the UK is majorly lagging behind in the race to rewire the grid.
Surely the government needs to invest in the grid before more wind farm developments are blindly approved?
Will all of this simply embolden developers and cut out local community interests? Will developers be accountable to anyone?