Ed Miliband Poised to Unleash Wind Power Revolution Across British Countryside
Labour’s shadow energy secretary, Ed Miliband, stands on the precipice of reigniting a contentious debate that has lain dormant for nearly a decade. The imminent resurgence of onshore wind turbines in Britain’s picturesque landscapes looms large on the horizon, threatening to reignite passions and divide communities once more.
A decade has passed since the rural backlash that compelled David Cameron’s government to halt onshore wind developments. Now, Miliband is gearing up to wage a new campaign in the shires, one that could dramatically alter the face of rural Britain.
Should Labour emerge victorious in the forthcoming general election, as many political pundits predict, Miliband’s ascension to the role of energy secretary would herald a sea change in the nation’s approach to renewable energy. Among his first acts in office would be a comprehensive rewrite of the planning regulations that have hitherto stymied wind farm developments across England.
At a recent gathering of wind farm developers, Miliband articulated his vision with striking clarity: “Our mission involves doubling onshore wind, trebling solar, quadrupling offshore wind and backing hydrogen CCS [carbon capture and storage], nuclear and other clean energy technologies,” he declared. “We need all of these technologies…That’s why we would get started in our first weeks in office by overturning the Conservative onshore wind ban in England.”
In a political climate where Labour has faced criticism for a perceived lack of clarity regarding its policy agenda, Miliband’s forthright approach might be viewed as a refreshing departure from ambiguity. However, for many residents in rural areas that have hitherto been shielded by Mr Cameron’s moratorium on onshore wind development, Miliband’s pledge will likely be interpreted as an ominous harbinger of unwelcome change.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader, offered a glimpse into the party’s ambitious plans during his address at last year’s Labour conference. He characterised Britain’s current planning system as “one barrier so big, so imposing that it blocks out all light from the other side” and vowed to “bulldoze through it.” This robust rhetoric signals a comprehensive overhaul of planning regulations, aimed at promoting development and growth across the board, with a particular emphasis on facilitating onshore wind projects.
The implications of this policy shift are profound. Wind turbines may soon punctuate some of Britain’s most cherished landscapes, accompanied by a proliferation of electricity pylons, solar farms, battery storage facilities, and an array of other low-carbon energy infrastructure. This transformation of the rural vista is poised to spark intense debate and, potentially, fierce opposition.
Proponents of the policy argue that such measures are long overdue. A recent analysis conducted by Friends of the Earth suggested that removing planning obstacles for onshore wind and solar projects could catalyse a staggering 13-fold increase in electricity generation from these sources. The environmental group identified 219,800 hectares of land deemed suitable for onshore wind development, contending that this represents a mere fraction of the UK’s total land area.
James Robottom, head of policy at Renewable UK, an industry body, lends his support to the initiative: “Lifting the ban on onshore wind in England would give local authorities a powerful tool to strengthen our nation’s energy security,” he asserts.
However, critics are quick to point out that the area identified for potential wind farm development, while small in relative terms, still exceeds the size of Herefordshire. Moreover, they argue that the physical footprint of the turbines themselves is not the crux of the issue.
The next generation of wind turbines, characterised by their colossal dimensions, are set to exert a profound impact on the wider landscape, even if the individual towers occupy a comparatively modest land area. The ceaseless rotation of their blades inevitably draws the eye, potentially disrupting once-tranquil vistas. Additionally, concerns persist regarding the generation of vibrations and light “flicker” for nearby residents. These were precisely the arguments that fuelled protests a decade ago, ultimately compelling Cameron’s government to reverse course on onshore wind development.
The scale of Labour’s ambition becomes apparent when considering Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to more than double onshore wind capacity from the current 15 gigawatts (GW) to 35GW by 2030. At present, England is home to 2,009 onshore wind turbines, with Scotland boasting nearly 5,000 and Wales hosting approximately 1,000 more, bringing the UK total to around 8,000.
However, the majority of these existing turbines are diminutive by modern standards, particularly when compared to their offshore counterparts. Most stand between 200 and 300 feet tall and generate less than a megawatt of power each. The next wave of turbines promises to be markedly different – towering behemoths reaching heights of up to 850 feet, each capable of producing significantly more electricity.
The sheer scale of these planned machines does mean that fewer will be required to meet Labour’s 2030 target – approximately 4,000 such turbines could suffice. Paradoxically, the majority of these are likely to be erected in England, as the longstanding ban means it retains the most promising undeveloped sites.
The pressing questions that arise are: Where will these turbines be constructed? And at what cost to wildlife and the landscape?
To gain insight into the potential impact, one need look no further than Wales, where the devolved government has already implemented planning law reforms similar to those proposed by Mr Miliband. The “Future Wales – the National Plan 2040” outlines three crucial alterations to the planning regime.
Firstly, decision-making authority for larger wind farms has been wrested from local councils and placed in the hands of Labour ministers. Secondly, a “presumption in favour of large-scale wind energy developments” has been introduced, paving the way for more numerous and taller turbines – up to 850 feet in height. Previously, such massive structures were exclusively deployed offshore.
The consequences of these changes have been swift and significant. Applications for wind farm developments have surged, as have the number of protest groups springing up in towns and villages across Wales, from Anglesey in the north to Powys in the south. Each of these groups is engaged in its own battle against what they perceive as an invasion of turbines into their local landscapes.
There is a very real possibility that these conflicts could soon be replicated across England. Mark Sullivan, chairman of the West Midlands group of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, offers a sobering perspective: “It’s worth remembering that the current policy is not a ban. Developers who obtain community support can get permission for turbines. It is just that people living in rural England will not give that support.”
The debate extends beyond mere aesthetic considerations. The construction of wind farms necessitates the installation of foundations, the laying of cables, the building of substations, and often the creation of new access roads. Once operational, turbines can cause further disruption through “flicker” – caused by sunlight reflected off moving blades – and low-level vibrations transmitted through both air and ground.
Moreover, it is not only human residents who stand to be affected by this renewable energy revolution. The British Trust for Ornithology, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and various Wildlife Trusts all express support for clean energy in principle. However, they caution that poorly-sited turbines can drive birds and bats away from their habitats and disrupt delicate ecosystems. These organisations have called for comprehensive ecological impact assessments to be conducted “at the very start of the planning process”.
The Welsh government’s response to these concerns has been to implement a zoning system, creating “Pre-Assessed Areas for Wind Energy”. This approach effectively designates vast swathes of the Welsh countryside as suitable for wind farm development, irrespective of local sentiment.
In anticipation of Mr Miliband’s promised changes to planning law, local authorities across England have already begun incorporating wind development areas into their local plans. Northumberland County Council, for instance, has published a detailed 47-page guide identifying the most suitable areas for new wind farms within its jurisdiction.
For the time being, Mr Miliband is refraining from explicitly endorsing such zoning measures, suggesting that it may be premature to delve into such specifics. Nevertheless, his determination to facilitate the construction of these wind farms is unequivocal.
“We just want to lift this ban,” he states emphatically. “At the moment, it’s easier to build an incinerator than it is to have an onshore wind development. And that doesn’t make any sense.”
As the debate intensifies and the prospect of a Labour government looms larger, communities across rural England find themselves bracing for a potential transformation of their local landscapes. The coming months and years are likely to witness a clash between the imperatives of renewable energy development and the desire to preserve the character of Britain’s countryside. The outcome of this conflict will shape the nation’s energy future and the face of its rural landscapes for generations to come.