Yesterday, P4P Chair, Baroness Hayman chaired several sessions of an online conference on onshore wind. Watched by over 100 attendees and featuring academic experts, local leaders and industry representatives, the event explored the regulatory climate and future prospects for UK onshore wind.
The event was arranged by the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum and saw contributions from leaders at SSE, the Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire County Council among others.
Leading three sessions on planning for onshore infrastructure, removing barriers to onshore growth and what the future holds for onshore wind, Baroness Hayman highlighted the involvement of P4P Peers in legislative efforts to reverse the de facto ban on onshore wind development. She stressed that the Government’s recent decision to greenlight onshore projects marked an important political milestone.
While acknowledging the cost-effectiveness and major potential of onshore wind to deliver clean power - if planning and grid constraints are resolved - Baroness Hayman also recognised that challenges ahead need to be navigated to meet not only the needs of industry and government, but also local communities and environmental considerations.
The importance of striking the right balance between these factors and in particular the underlying tension around appropriately siting projects, and balancing ambitions to connect onshore wind quickly while taking on board the concerns of local populations, was a common theme and resulted in lively discussion among panellists and in Q&As from the audience.
Baroness Hayman (CB) said:
“Somehow we have to translate the support in principle that report after report, and public opinion survey after public opinion survey, tells us is there for onshore wind into reality on the ground”
Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning at Lincolnshire County Council said
“Government can say they want to do things, but government also has to win hearts and minds … At the top end, all of these costs are going to get passed on to business, and business will leave the UK if energy costs are not brought into line with other nations.”
Becky Pullinger, Head of Land Use Planning at The Wildlife Trusts said:
“It's not just about protecting the spaces that we have … infrastructure projects should be seeking to deliver biodiversity net gain. And we know that onshore renewable energy, in particular, solar and wind developments, can deliver a significant uplift for biodiversity when planned well.”
Closing the conference, Baroness Hayman reflected on the opportunities for onshore wind to offer win-wins when the public have been closely involved and consulted on, as well as optimism that certain onshore projects, like an example outlined by the Bristol Energy Network, could offer a blueprint to bridge the divide in opinions on how to manage competing interests.
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