Charities urge government to unblock onshore wind in England
A group of charities, led by climate charity Possible, including Friends of the Earth, Green Alliance and The Wildlife Trusts, have written to the government in support of onshore wind. The letter urged ministers to remove planning restrictions in England that effectively block new onshore wind projects, to protect the UK’s energy security as well as the climate and address skyrocketing energy prices.
The letter comes as ministers are set to make key decisions on the future of onshore wind. The forthcoming energy security statement, which looks to address UK energy supply independence as well as address months of spiralling costs that include a huge jump coming in just the next few days, could see a step backwards for the climate with the announcement of new oil and gas projects, including fracking, along with expensive and slow nuclear projects.
The letter expressed support for recent reports that the government is considering replacing the planning barriers blocking new onshore wind power in England with a more proportionate system, and urged quick, meaningful action to unblock wind and allow communities across the UK to benefit from clean, cheap and reliable energy. Current planning systems have effectively banned onshore wind, with a Whitehall source finally admitting last week that “we have basically had a moratorium on onshore wind for the last seven years”.
The letter also called on the government to build a secure, low-carbon energy system that works for everyone by ensuring that enough new renewable electricity capacity is included each year in the Contracts for Difference auctions, that there is a route to market for community energy projects and that Ofgem has a zero-carbon mandate.
Onshore wind is now six times cheaper than gas power. If the planning system was rationalised it could be built quickly, and it is popular with the UK public with 80% support. Its expansion is a vital part in securing the UK’s energy supply, ending reliance on fossil fuels and the volatile prices produced by our reliance on gas.
The clean electricity supply that the UK will need in 2030 will require installed capacity of 45GW of offshore wind, 35GW of onshore wind and 45GW of solar. Currently there is just 11GW of offshore wind, 14GW of onshore wind and less than 14GW of solar, leaving just eight years to triple our installed capacity. Unblocking onshore wind in England would help to get the UK onto the path for a clean, secure energy grid.
Alethea Warrington, campaigner at climate charity Possible, said:
“It beggars belief that, as people are facing an unprecedented spike in energy costs that could push millions into poverty, ministers are still blocking one of the cheapest forms of energy. Onshore wind is clean, low-cost and extremely popular among people across the UK - with the exception of a few out-of-touch cabinet ministers who would prefer to keep us locked into the sky high prices of dirty fossil fuels that damage the climate. It’s beyond time to end reliance on gas and start powering our lives with our abundant domestic renewable energy resources.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The letter will be sent at 19.00 Sunday 27th and you can find the full text HERE. Signatories included at bottom of the letter.
For media enquiries and further information please contact press@wearepossible.org or 07806431577.
Alethea Warrington, campaigner and Leo Murray, director of innovation, at climate charity Possible are available for comment. Please contact press@wearepossible.org for more information.
Possible is a UK-based charity that brings people together to take positive, practical action on climate change. Combining individual and local actions with larger systemic change, we connect people with each other, and communities with ways to address the climate crisis. wearepossible.org.
Possible changed its name from 10:10 Climate Action on 10th October 2019.