The Wind Farm Debate - a Load of Hot Air?

1st May 2005

T. Wyn Jones

While wind farms have begun to look like an endangered species with mounting opposition to individual proposals and considerable critical media coverage all is not as it seems as statistics show that 2005 is set to become a record year for wind energy with a total of eighteen new wind farms being officially commissioned.

Further, it is considered opinion that ministerial involvement in this area is likely to increase significantly over the next few years as not only has the Government made a commitment that by 2010 10% of electricity demand will be met from green energy sources (much from on-shore and off-shore wind farms) it has also set itself the target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions (the main greenhouse gas) by 20% to that of the 1990 levels - by the same date.

What is more alarming to some parties is that it is now a requirement that proposals for schemes generating more than 50 megawatts of electricity need consent from The Department of Trade & Industry under the devolved powers of the Electricity Act. Scotland’s recently opened and most powerful wind farm was the first to receive such consent highlighting the fact that Ministers who had previously not played a part in the planning system may very well have the ultimate decision making powers.

The requirement that such schemes need consent from The Department of Trade & Industry means in real terms that whilst the Planning Authorities can object to such applications and prompt a Public Enquiry the final decision may rest in parts of government who have little or no knowledge in rural affair issues and the day to day planning system.

Whether you are for or against wind farms it is a fact that the wind industry in the UK is expanding at such a rate that this year alone will see a higher achieved capacity than the whole of the 1990’s, and what’s more, the industry is set to grow still further in 2006 as we could very well become the world leader in off shore wind development.