Onshore wind turbines in the East could mean a multi-billion-pound boost for the economy and create thousands of jobs, the head of the region’s energy group has said.
Kevin Keable, chair of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), has welcomed the new Labour government’s lifting of a ban on new onshore energy in England this week.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the end of what she called an “absurd ban” on new onshore wind projects on Monday, committing to double onshore wind energy by 2030.
Mr Keable said: “Now onshore wind developments are open for business in the UK at last to provide UK homes with low-cost clean electricity while strengthening our national energy security and tackling climate change.
“The chancellor also talked about energy infrastructure projects, which have been held up in the planning system for years.
“While I agree that there will be opposition to some of these projects, if we are to meet the increasing level of electricity demand with homegrown supply we need these important new clean energy infrastructure projects signed off quickly so that we can, as Ms Reeves said, get shovels in the ground and construction started, with robust local consultation to bring economic benefits to communities, and environmental and ecological measures to protect wildlife.”
EEEGR’s partner RenewableUK says that the efficiency and power of modern turbines means doubling the UK’s onshore wind capacity by 2030 will not mean doubling the number of turbines.
Its research claims that delivering 30 gigawatts of onshore wind by the end of the decade would boost the UK economy by £45 billion and create 27,000 jobs.
The government plans to build 1.5 million homes in England in five years – 300,000 a year.
“Every home will require power and building them will require even more energy for the supply of materials and labour during construction,” Mr Keable said.
“Ms Reeves talked about powering growth of the economy. Whenever the economy grows energy is required. So, as the economy grows, Britain will need even more energy than is currently predicted.
“EEEGR, Skills for Energy and our sector councils look forward to supporting our members, stakeholders, local authorities and national government through this period of economic, skills, and energy growth across our region and the entire country.”
‘ABSURD BAN’
Rachel Reeves became the UK’s first female chancellor after Labour won the general election last week.
In her first speech as chancellor on Monday, Ms Reeves announced the end of the “absurd” ban on onshore wind and that Labour will create a new taskforce “to accelerate stalled housing sites in our country”.
“As of today, we are ending the absurd ban on new onshore wind in England,” she said.
“We will also go further and consult on bringing onshore wind back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, meaning decisions on large developments will be taken nationally not locally.
“Second, we will give priority to energy projects in the system to ensure they make swift progress and we will build on the spatial plan for energy by expanding this to other infrastructure sectors.
“Third, we will create a new taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites in our country.”
LABOUR’S ENERGY PLEDGE
The Labour government has pledged to spend £23.7bn on green measures during the next parliament – £1.7bn a year.
It plans to set up Great British Energy, a state-owned energy company, and create 650,000 jobs by 2030 – 56,000 in the East.
The government has also promised to spend £1.1bn a year to improve the energy efficiency of homes, as well as banning petrol and diesel car sales from 2030 – bringing forward the last government’s 2035 deadline.
Source EADT
