The House of Lords has reinstated Labour’s Energy Bill amendment to widen the grace period criteria for onshore wind farms affected by the early closure of the Renewables Obligation.
The amendment allows a one-year grace period for wind farms where the relevant planning authority had resolved to grant planning permission by 18 June 2015.
In a concession to the government, however, Labour’s amendment 7TD states that legal agreements, known as Section 106 in England or Section 75 in Scotland, must have been granted by 18 September.
Labour’s previous amendment, 7T, did not stipulate a deadline for full planning permission to have been granted.
In the latest game of Parliamentary ping pong, peers voted in favour of opposition energy spokesman Lord Grantchester’s amendment by 270 votes to 220.
The measure was voted out of the Energy Bill in the Commons last week having been voted though by the Lords on 12 April.
The Energy Bill will return to the Commons, where MPs are expected to oppose the new amendment.
Image: Portcullis House and Big Ben (UK Parliament)
Lords score Energy Bill wind win
Labour amendment passes but with tweak to RO grace period criteria
By EBS