RenewableUK has welcomed Labour’s pledge to end onshore wind ban in England to generate low-cost power, create jobs and boost energy security.
Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero Ed Miliband told RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind conference in Manchester that the party would lift the ban if elected on July 4.
RenewableUK’s head of policy James Robottom said: “We welcome this major energy policy announcement by Labour.
“Lifting the ban on onshore wind in England, which has been in place for nine years, would strengthen our nation’s energy security and provide more clean electricity for consumers from one of our cheapest sources of new power.
“We support all efforts to accelerate the build out of new projects in areas where local communities support onshore wind.
“New planning policies like those announced today by Ed Miliband could unlock billions of pounds of clean energy investment in the UK.
“We’re urging all politicians to set ambitious UK-wide targets for onshore wind by 2030.
“Our research shows that delivering 30GW of onshore wind by the end of the decade, double what we have today, would boost the economy by £45bn and create 27,000 jobs.”