Labour will today propose amendments to the Energy Bill that end the English ban on onshore wind as well as cut energy bills by £93bn.
In a first “major test” for new Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, the fourth to bring forward the delayed Energy Bill, Labour will introduce proposals that would put the UK on a path to becoming a “clean energy superpower by 2030”, including ending the ban on new onshore wind in England.
Labour said its amendment will remove the veto permanently by bringing planning rules for the sector in line with all forms of major infrastructure.
Labour said in a statement: “There are serious concerns across the energy industry that, although an improvement on the current situation, the Sharma amendment does not go far enough, because it does not bring the planning rules for onshore wind in line with major infrastructure.”
Following the ban, project approvals have fallen 97% since 2015. Only 10 onshore wind projects have been consented for development in England and only three are actually operating.
Labour’s Shadow Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband (pictured) said: “This is the first major test of the new Energy Secretary.
“Will she persist with the Tories’ disastrous ban onshore wind, which has undermined Britain’s energy security and cost families money, or will she put country before party, stand up to her cabinet colleagues, and back homegrown clean power?
“We’ve heard countless promises from Conservatives before on removing the ban.
“But we cannot have half measures or false solutions.
“Only Labour can cut energy bills for good and make us energy secure, with our plan to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030, and GB Energy – our publicly-owned national champion that will produce cheap, clean power in Britain, for Britain.”