Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall joins the call for onshore wind
For nearly a decade, there has been a ban on new onshore wind in England. Then, late last year, there was an amazing show of support for wind from people across the UK and together we forced the government into opening a consultation on whether to finally lift the ban on onshore wind in England.
We’re proud to be one of the signatories on this open letter coordinated by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to tell the government to unblock wind from these unfair planning rules, and we’ve built an easy-to-use tool so you can respond to the consultation, and tell the government that it’s time to unlock the full potential of wind power. It will only take two minutes to add your voice. Read the letter and see the full list of over 100 signatories below.
The Letter
Dear Secretaries of State,
We are writing to you to express our deep concern that the government apparently has no credible plans to lift the de facto ban on onshore wind.
Government rules, introduced in 2015, mean that just one objection to an onshore wind farm can block the whole project, meaning there’s effectively been a ban in place for 8 years. As a result, there has been a 96% decrease in the number of new turbines approved in England. Many communities who would see great benefits from onshore wind have projects standing by with overwhelming local support, yet are unable to proceed.
Responsibly developed onshore wind is one of the cheapest, cleanest and most nature-friendly forms of energy available, and has the power to address climate change and the existential threat it poses to our natural world. While our energy bills have sky-rocketed and we continue to import foreign gas, it is extraordinary that the government isn’t doing everything possible to maximise the potential of onshore wind. For our national energy security, and for the sake of the planet, we cannot afford to block this crucial clean energy source any longer.
The evidence is compelling that ending the ban on onshore wind is an essential step if the Government is serious about its commitment to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Climate Change Committee and The Mission Zero Report both recommend the rapid deployment of onshore wind. However, the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework which are currently under consultation are entirely inadequate to bring about the required change in policy. The decision to replace Footnote 54 with some marginally revised wording, in the form of new Footnotes 62 & 63, looks to be almost identical in effect, and inevitably means the effective ban will remain in place.
At the very least, onshore wind planning applications should be assessed on a level playing field with all other infrastructure projects. We are therefore calling for the removal of Footnotes 62 & 63 (previously Footnote 54) from the National Planning Policy Framework. Let’s end a policy that hampers both climate progress and energy security and open up the possibility of wind power across England now.
Yours,
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - Author, Cook and TV Presenter
Leo Murray - Co-Director, Possible
Dale Vince OBE - Green Industrialist and Founder of Ecotricity
Nick Bruce White - Interim Director, RSBP
Caroline Lucas MP - Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, former leader and co-leader of the Green Party
Dr Rebecca Windemer - Senior Lecturer of Environmental Planning, UWE Bristol
Prof Sir David King - FRS, Former Govt CSA and Climate Envoy, Chair and Founder, Climate Crisis Advisory Group
Areeba Hamid and Will McCallum - Co-Executive Directors, Greenpeace UK
Hugh Knowles and Miriam Turner - Co-Executive Directors, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Prof Alice Roberts - Professor Alice Roberts, Professor of Public Engagement in Science, University of Birmingham
Chris Packham CBE - Broadcaster and Environmental Activist
Prof Dave Goulson - University of Sussex
Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE - Director, Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), University of Bath
Liz Bonnin - Science, Natural History and Environmental Broadcaster
Baroness Bryony Worthington
Cameron Hepburn - Professor of Environmental Economics, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford
Dimitri Zenghelis - Visiting Senior Fellow, Grantham Research Institute (LSE) and Bennett Institute, University of Cambridge
Baroness Rosie Boycott
Professor Mark Maslin FRGS, FRSA - Department of Geography, UCL
Prof. Pete Smith FRS, FRSE, FNA, FEurASc, FI Soil Sci., FRSB - Professor of Soils and Global Change, University of Aberdeen
Deborah Meaden - Business leader and Investor
Jonathon Porritt - Environmental Campaigner and Author
Ed Gillespie - British environmental entrepreneur, speaker, futurist, and author
Mark Stevenson - Author, former special advisor on Peace, Security and Climate Change to UK MoD, ambassador for Client Earth and Climate Entrepreneur
Mike Berners-Lee - Author of There is No Planet B, Founder, Small World Consulting, Professor, Lancaster University.
James Robottom - Head of Onshore Wind, RenewableUK
Joan Edwards - Director of Policy and Public Affairs, The Wildlife Trusts
Satish Kumar - Founder of Schumacher College and Editor Emeritus of Resurgence and Ecologist magazine
Fehinti Balogun - Actor and Climate Activist
Kevin McCloud MBE - Broadcaster
Jon Richardson - Comedian
Mary Portas - Founder of We Are Portas, Business Woman, Broadcaster and Author. Co-Chair Better Business Act
Natalie Fée - Founder, City to Sea.
Dr Ruza Ivanovic - Associate Professor in Climatology, University of Leeds
Lizzie Carr MBE - Founder, Planet Patrol
Abigail Entwistle - Senior Conservation Director, Fauna and Flora
Merlin Hyman OBE - Chief Executive, Regen
Dr Alison Green - ED, Scientists Warning Foundation
Patrick Holden - CEO and Founder, Sustainable Food Trust
Helen Browning - Chief Executive Officer, Soil Association
Guy Singh-Watson - Founder, Riverford
Mike Smyth MBE - Chair, Energy4All
Emma Bridge - Chief Executive, Community Energy England
Steve Shaw - Director, Power for People
Simon Francis - Co-ordinator, End Fuel Poverty Coalition
Stephen Platt - Treasurer, Hope Valley Climate Action
Alice Harrison - Strategy Lead, Global Witness
Giles Bristow - Interim CEO, Ashden
Linda Walker - Coordinator, High Peak Green New Deal
Kevin Oubridge - Business Net Zero
Sue Riddlestone OBE - Chief Executive, Bioregional
Revd Dr Darrell D Hannah - Chair, Operation Noah
Chaitanya Kumar - Head of Environment and Green Transitions, New Economic Foundation
Andrew Pendleton - Acting Chief Executive, Global Action Plan
Jon Hallé - Co-founder, Sharenergy Co-operative
Danny Dorling - Professor of Geography, University of Oxford
Melissa Hemsley - Food writer, cookbook author and sustainability champion
Joel Scott-Halkes - Wild Card and RePlanet UK
Emma Smart - Campaign Manager, RePlanet UK
Dustin Benton - Policy Director, Green Alliance
Kath Norgrove FCIWEM C.WEM CEnv - Chair, Sustainable Bridgnorth
Bruce Davis - Joint Managing Director, Abundance Investment
Sophy Fearnley-Whittingstall - Renewable energy and climate campaigner
Nancy Stewart - Chair, Market Drayton Climate Action
Nick Powell - TV Producer and Author of ‘Poppy Goes Wild’
Keith Hempshall - Director, Local and Community Empowerment Team, Centre for Sustainable Energy
(CSE)
Deborah Tomkins - Co-chair, Green Christian
Prof Simon L. Lewis - Department of Geography, UCL
Dr Amy McDonnell - Campaign Director, Zero Hour
Professor Paul Ekins - Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources
Matthew Paterson - Director, Sustainable Consumption Institute/Dept of Politics, University of Manchester
Dr James Dyke - Associate Professor in Earth System Science, Assistant Director Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter
Peter Newell - Professor of International Relations, Sussex University
Matt Watson - Professor of Geography, University of Sheffield
Bill McGuire - Professor Emeritus of Geophysical and Climate Hazards, UCL
Prof. Neil B. Metcalfe - University of Glasgow
Professor David Burslem - Interdisciplinary Director, Environment and Biodiversity, University of Aberdeen
Prof. David Humphreys - Emeritus Professor of Environmental Policy, Open University
Mia Gray - Professor of Economic Geography, University of Cambridge
Professor Caroline Lear - Director of Research, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University
Professor Emeritus Martin Price - University of the Highlands and Islands
Professor Heiko Balzter - National Centre for Earth Observation and School of Geography, Geology and Environment, University of Leicester
Andrew Simms - Co-director, New Weather Institute
Dr Stuart Parkinson - ED, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Dr Jan Maskell - Vice Chair, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Dr Christopher Hassall - Associate Professor of Biology, University of Leeds
Dr Wendy Hollway - Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Open University, UK
Frederick Toates - Professor Emeritus, Open University
Professor Richard Cochrane - Associate Professor in Renewable Energy, University of Exeter
Prof Justin Hinshelwood - Associate Professor in Renewable Energy (Education and Scholarship), University of Exeter
Dr Steve Carver - Director, Wildland Research Institute, School of Geography, University of Leeds
Malcolm Adkins - Chair, Wem Area Climate Action (WACA)
Pete Capener MBE - Managing Director, Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE)
Ollie Pendered - CEO, Community Energy South
ffinlo Costain - Chief Executive, Farmwel
Prof John Marsham - Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, UK
Caryn Loftus - Director/Company Secretary, Whitby Esk Energy
Als Parker - Director, Devon Energy Collective CIC
Nick Mann - Founder, Habitat Aid Ltd
Dr Guy Parker - Director, Wychwood Biodiversity
Professor Kate Jeffery - Head of School, Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow
Rowan Ryrie - Co-founder, Parents for Future UK.
Melissa Green - CEO, National Federation of Women’s Institutes
Dave Green - Secretary, Shropshire and Telford community Energy
Jake Burnyeat - Director, Communities for Renewables CIC
Ece Ozdemiroglu - CEO, eftec
Adam Twine - Founding Director, Westmill Wind and Solar Coops
Mike Watkins - Co-ordinator, Bishop’s Castle Climate Action Group
Chris Deaves - Chair of Trustees, Zero Carbon Shropshire
Nik Clutterbuck - Director and Treasurer, Evesham Vale Energy Renewables
Cath Edwards - Secretary, Sustainable Newport Shropshire
David Matthews - Chair of Trustees, Stretton Climate Care
Mike Parker - Chair, Sedgeberrow Sustainable and Manageable Energy CIC
Jane Cullen - Chair, South Shropshire Climate Action
Richard Lane - Director, York Community Energy
Simon Gibbon - Steering Committee Member, Climate Action Stokesley and Villages
Fiona Morgan - Trustee, Climate Action Hub Telford
Emma Pinchbeck - Chief Executive of Energy UK
Lorna Powell - Organiser, Mothers Rise Up
Matthew Clayton - Managing Director. Thrive Renewables
Dominic Winter - Head of Programmes, Protect Our Winters UK
We’re so close to winning on wind, and more and more people are joining the call to lift the ban on this clean, cheap energy. There’s such little time left to make your voice heard. It takes just two clicks to speak up for wind - so do it now!