It has recently been reported that planning permissions which result in approvals for wind farms have dropped 50%.
Meg Hillier is Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and has responded to the report stating:
“The poor success rate in wind farms receiving planning permission is disappointing.”
“It highlights the need for certainty about Government support for off-shore wind farms which have a vital role to play in the future of energy generation in the UK. We need answers from the Government or we risk losing investment to other countries. The spin off jobs and private sector investment are vital for the UK.”
“The government?s plan to bring the functions of the Infrastructure Planning Commission into the Planning Inspectorate will be tested. There needs to be a strategic oversight of important infrastructure planning including wind farms.”
The Government is due to release its initial plans regarding reforms in the energy sector and it is hoped that this will lead to the application rate rising to previous levels.
[mappress]
Source: greenenergy, September 07, 2011