Protests halt wind farm projects
Updated on 02 March 2007
Local protests have halted two-thirds of proposed wind farms recently.
A blot on the landscape? Or essential to avoid the worst impacts of climate change? Wind farms provide nearly half of all renewable electricity that is produced in the UK.
But new figures out today show that since Sir Nicholas Stern's report into the dangers of climate change, only a third of onshore wind farms are getting planning permission. And that could seriously damage the government targets to double green energy production by 2010.
A field by the A14 near Cambridge was to be the site of a new wind farm. 50 turbines providing clean energy to 16,000 homes. Yet some local residents objected, concerned that passing drivers would be distracted, and the view would be ruined.
Mike Barnard led the campaign. He's not opposed to wind farms, but says this isn't the right site for one. Just 30 miles down the road - and the energy company that was turned down in Cambridge, managed to get a wind farm in Kettering approved.
The British Wind Energy Association says far too many projects are being rejected by local councils burdened by an overly complicated planning system.
And developers say that these decisions are undermining the government's target to double renewable electricity production to 10% in just three years time.
Since the Stern review into climate change was published in October, 12 out of 18 land based wind farms have been turned down. The industry says excuses like they distract drivers are not born out by fact.
Only yesterday the government came in for some flak for not putting enough money into schemes to help people makes their homes greener. It admits that the planning system is not working well enough and says it's introducing reform.
But can things now move fast enough?
