Miliband unveils new powers to approve large wind farms
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The UK government has announced plans for ministers to have the final say on large onshore wind farm approvals, aiming for 95% clean energy by 2030, despite opposition over potential higher energy costs. [John Keeble/Getty Images]
The UK government has announced a new plan that will give ministers the final decision on approving large onshore wind farms, instead of leaving such decisions to local councils, where opposition has been strong. This proposal is part of a broader strategy unveiled by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, aimed at achieving 95% clean energy in the UK by 2030.
Miliband’s proposals include granting the energy regulator more power to prioritize renewable energy projects awaiting connection to the National Grid. The government is looking to streamline the approval process for large onshore wind farms, bringing projects over 100MW under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime in England, which would allow ministers, not local councils, to have the final say.
In his announcement, Miliband emphasized the importance of utilizing the UK’s natural resources to harness clean energy. He stated, “The era of clean electricity is about harnessing the power of Britain’s natural resources.” However, the plans have faced criticism, particularly from Claire Coutinho, the Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security. She argued that Labour’s push to decarbonize the electricity system by 2030 would lead to higher electricity prices, which could burden consumers across Britain.
Despite this criticism, onshore wind remains one of the cheapest forms of clean energy. However, since the Conservative government introduced stricter planning regulations in 2015, the number of wind projects in England has dramatically declined by 94%. This was due to significant pushback from local communities, and the government’s policies allowed just a few objections to block new projects. In 2024, following Labour’s general election victory, planning rules were eased, but renewable energy groups felt the changes did not go far enough to promote growth in the sector.
The new plan also includes a proposal to allow the public to be consulted on wind farm projects, but the government will have the final say, taking into account national priorities like tackling climate change. The plan promises that any project will need to offer “direct community benefits” and proposes a recovery fund to invest in nature projects to compensate for environmental damage caused by wind farms.
Miliband is expected to promote the vision of a “new era of clean electricity,” offering a positive future for the UK with energy security, lower bills, job creation, and action on climate change. The 136-page action plan, which will be released on Friday, also includes measures aimed at accelerating renewable energy development, such as prioritizing projects for early connection to the electricity grid and incentivizing private investment.
Currently, there are thousands of renewable energy projects in a queue awaiting approval for connection to the UK grid. If all these projects were to go ahead, they would add 739GW of energy to the system, which is 14 times the amount of renewable energy currently available in the country. The government intends to move away from the current “first-come, first-served” approval process for grid connections, and instead prioritize those projects that will be most useful to the system.
Labour has projected that these reforms could attract up to £40bn in annual private investment for “homegrown clean power projects.” The renewable energy industry has long been calling for such measures and has broadly welcomed the new plans.
Lucy Yu, CEO of the think tank Centre for Net Zero, praised the government for its bold approach and the comprehensive nature of the proposed changes. She also reminded ministers of the importance of ensuring that consumers and communities are central to the energy transition. “The British public’s support will be key, and the government must ensure clean power delivery has their interests at heart,” Yu said.
The government’s plan is seen as an ambitious attempt to accelerate the transition to renewable energy while addressing the urgent need to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions. However, its success will depend on balancing the need for rapid progress with the concerns of local communities and the broader public. With the rise in energy costs and the potential social impact, the government’s ability to engage with and gain the support of the public will be crucial in ensuring the effectiveness of this action plan.
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