According to DECC (the Department of Energy and Climate Change) in 2010 nearly half of all applications for onshore wind energy projects were rejected by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs). This number has increased from roughly 30% in 2009 and represents a worrying trend for the Government who are still backing the technology as part of the their attempts to overcome the dual risks of climate change and energy security.
Law firm McGrigors, who obtained the numbers using the Freedom of Information Act, found that wind energy developers are becoming increasingly frustrated with LPAs and that the number of complaints and appeals are on the increase.
Often, elected members serving on planning committees were either ignorant of the need for affordable renewable energy or else swayed by local politics towards voting against proposed projects. From experience we have witnessed such comments as
I’m fed up of seeing wind turbines not moving, and so I’m voting against the motion.
If, in 10 or so years from now energy prices have tripled – you know who should be held partly responsible. The energy system the UK gets is the one it will likely deserve.